A flash flood tore through the bottom of the Grand Canyon
A flash flood came through the bottom of the Grand Canyon on Saturday. Dozens of people were lifted out by helicopter, and the count of who is still unaccounted for has not settled since.
The rain was not extraordinary. Between half an inch and an inch fell in roughly thirty minutes, CBS News reported, onto steep rock with nothing to absorb it. Justin Johndrow, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, told CBS the water ran off almost immediately.
That is the setup. Here is why it mattered where it landed.
Phantom Ranch sits on the canyon floor beside Bright Angel Creek. It opened in 1922. You reach it by mule trail, by foot trail, or by the Colorado River, and by nothing else. It is usually booked solid months ahead.
About 62 people were evacuated from Phantom Ranch and the lower North Kaibab Trail, most of them by helicopter, according to the National Park Service and reporting by Al Jazeera, CBS News and ABC News.
The missing count depends on which outlet you read. Al Jazeera and CBS News put it at about 15 people. ABC News reports at least 14. No reconciled figure has been published.
On Saturday night a body was recovered from the Colorado River near Crystal Rapids. CBS News reported the man was 46. As of Sunday, officials had not said whether the death is connected to the flooding or to anyone on the missing list.
The conditions that produced Saturday have not left. Thunderstorms and heavy rain were forecast through Monday, and a flood watch was issued for northern and central Arizona. Deep monsoonal moisture sat over ground that was already saturated.
The canyon floor is a place you can only leave the slow way.
By the numbers
- 62 — people evacuated from Phantom Ranch and the lower North Kaibab Trail, most by helicopter[1]
- 0.5 to 1 inch — of rain in about thirty minutes onto steep rock that could not absorb it[2]
- at least 14 — people missing per ABC News; Al Jazeera and CBS News put it at about 15[3]
- 1922 — the year Phantom Ranch opened on the canyon floor[4]
The reporting
This story is built on reporting by CBS News. Read the original →
Sources
- Al Jazeera, dozens evacuated and about 15 missing after Grand Canyon flash flood
- CBS News, Grand Canyon flood evacuation and helicopter rescue at Phantom Ranch
- ABC News, missing and unaccounted for in the Grand Canyon after flash flood
- National Park Service, significant flash flooding closes Phantom Ranch and North Kaibab Trail
- Wikipedia, Phantom Ranch
Image credits
- Hero: source (NPS photo, public domain) — J. Thompson
- In story: source (NPS photo, public domain) — National Park Service
