The National Weather Service (NWS) Flagstaff office issued a Flood Warning for parts of Coconino and Navajo counties in Arizona. This warning was issued on October 23, 2026, at 5:17 AM MST, and remains in effect until Saturday, October 24, at 3:00 AM MST. FOX 10 Phoenix also reported a Flood Warning for Coconino County for the same period. The alert specifically targets the Little Colorado River, covering the area from Holbrook to Leupp.

Officials stated that the flooding is caused by excessive rainfall. The NWS warned that flooding of the Little Colorado River is either imminent or already occurring. Further rises in water levels are expected. The warning also highlighted the danger of deadly flooding over low-water crossings.

As of 4:30 AM MST on October 23, the Little Colorado River at Holbrook measured 14.34 feet. Its flood stage is 15.5 feet. Forecasters predict a crest of 16.41 feet for the river at Holbrook. A river gauge near Woodruff reported falling water levels at 5:15 AM MST on October 23, but elevated flow continued from Holbrook to Winslow. Elevated flow is forecast to persist through the afternoon, with potential downstream impacts at Birdsprings later in the evening. NWS Flagstaff reported Little Colorado River flooding on October 23, 2026.

The region has experienced significant rainfall contributing to the flood risk. As of October 22, flooding remained a threat across parts of the Southwest USA due to continued rainfall increasing runoff and water levels. Flood watches extended through October 23 in some areas of Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. Earlier, a strong Pacific storm was anticipated to bring heavy rain to the Navajo Nation through Thursday. National Weather Service forecasters had warned of possible flash flooding in washes, creeks, and low-water crossings. A flood watch was issued for northern and central Arizona from October 21 through October 22 night. This storm was drawing tropical and subtropical moisture into the region, bringing repeated rounds of showers and thunderstorms. A second day of Southwest rain kept flood warnings across four states on October 23, 2026.