Flash Flood Turns Dry Desert Wash Into Raging River Over Arizona Road

Muddy water rushed across a road at Lake Havasu State Park after weekend rain filled the normally dry desert washes.

The video shows brown, foamy water flowing quickly over a dip in the paved road. A yellow depth gauge beside the crossing shows the water at the one-foot mark. On the far side, a white pickup truck waits with its headlights on.

Twigs, branches and other debris have piled up where the water runs off the road into the wash. The sky is grey and overcast.

The park shared the clip on October 13, 2026, saying the washes were “flowing with nearly a foot of water in some areas.”

“This rain was a great reminder of how quickly conditions can change here in the desert,” the park wrote, warning people to “never walk or drive through flowing water.”