WeatherTuesday, November 3
SRP is sending storm runoff down the Salt River, and Tempe Town Lake is closed to boats
The Mesa Today team
A storm dropped more than 6 inches of rain on parts of Arizona, and flood warnings remain posted. The National Weather Service says flooding on major waterways, including the Salt River, could persist through the week.
To make room in its reservoirs, SRP increased releases to approximately 54,000 cubic feet per second from Bartlett and Stewart Mountain. Reservoirs on the Salt and Verde rivers saw record-breaking inflows, and a fall release is rare: SRP typically releases in spring, when snowmelt becomes runoff.
SRP's releases reach up to 403,000 gallons per second after the storm
- Over 6 inches
- of rain in Munds Park, Forest Lakes and Oak Creek
- Over 4 inches
- in McCormick Ranch and north Scottsdale, about half a year's rain
- Up to 403,000
- gallons per second released by SRP
- Tempe Town Lake reopening: no date; staff evaluating conditions
- Mormon Flat dam maintenance: still on as planned
- Storm cause: likely El Niño
If you cross the Salt on McKellips Road, check conditions first. SRP's Granite Reef Dam releases flooded low water crossings upstream of Tempe Town Lake on Oct. 31, McKellips included. Tempe closed the lake to on-water recreation out of caution over the flow and debris.
Rain, releases and a lake closure built up over four days
- Oct. 30First storm drops a tenth of an inch to over an inch around metro Phoenix.
- Oct. 31SRP starts Granite Reef Dam releases, flooding Salt River low water crossings.
- Nov. 1Tempe closes Tempe Town Lake to on-water recreation until further notice.
- Nov. 2SRP says releases are up to about 54,000 cubic feet per second.