Flash floods prompt helicopter rescues in Wickenburg and Tonopah, Arizona
Flash floods prompted multiple rescues in Wickenburg and Tonopah, Arizona, on November 18, 2025, following several days of heavy rainfall across western Maricopa and Yavapai counties.
A slow-moving storm system brought widespread rainfall and flash flooding to parts of central and western Arizona this week, prompting multiple rescues in rural areas west of Phoenix.
Two people were rescued in Tonopah on November 18 after their truck got trapped in floodwaters reportedly reaching halfway up the vehicle’s windows. Firefighters and Maricopa County Sheriff’s deputies reached the stranded occupants safely, according to local news reports.
In Wickenburg, about 65 km (40 miles) northwest of Tonopah, crews performed multiple rescues the same day. A van carrying three people became stranded while attempting to cross a flooded wash and was recovered with assistance from a Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office helicopter. In a separate incident, a pickup driver and a dog were also rescued from floodwaters nearby.
Meanwhile, at least one person has been reported missing since November 18, after floodwaters swept away a vehicle near Cordes Lakes.
The Flood Control District of Maricopa County recorded measurable rainfall across the western valley, with automated gauges reporting accumulations of over 50 mm (2 inches) in some locations between November 17 and 19.
Multiple roads were closed in the affected region.
The Yavapai County Office of Emergency Management and the NWS Phoenix had issued a Flood Watch through the afternoon of November 19 into November 20, warning that saturated soils and continued runoff could cause additional flooding in washes and low-lying areas.
Feature image credit: Government of Sedona
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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