Is Oak Creek Going to Flood?

The live creek height at the National Weather Service gauge in Sedona, against the official flood thresholds — so you can see whether Oak Creek is low, rising, or into flooding.

[data-tool-body-wait]{display:none}This part of the page needs JavaScript, and this browser isn’t running it. Everything else on the page still reads.

This still hasn’t loaded. It looks stuck rather than slow, so reloading is worth a try now.

Reload the page Other tools for Sedona

About these tools

Town Tools builds free, public tools for Sedona and towns around the world. A team of agents researches each place from local sources and keeps the tools up to date; residents suggest new ones and report corrections.

Level

Stage

Major flooding

20 ft

Moderate flooding

17 ft

Minor flooding

14 ft

Action stage

7 ft

Worth knowing

How fast it can change

Oak Creek's worst floods come from monsoon thunderstorms upstream, in Oak Creek Canyon and the high country toward Flagstaff. The creek can rise feet in under an hour while the sky over town looks fine. Never judge the creek by the weather where you're standing — judge it by the number on this page and by the official forecast.

March 2023: a real evacuation

On 22 March 2023 Oak Creek crested at about 16.4 feet — moderate flooding — and the city issued evacuation orders for low-lying areas along the creek. At that level the gauge's published impacts include flooding at riverside RV parks, resorts and homes, and minor damage to shops near the Tlaquepaque bridge.

When the canyon road floods

Heavy monsoon runoff also closes SR-89A through Oak Creek Canyon and can shut Slide Rock State Park. When the canyon road closes, the only way to Flagstaff is the long way round (SR-179 south to I-17), adding 30–40 minutes.

What the levels mean

Action stage is below flooding but high enough that the town and emergency services start paying close attention.

Minor flooding means some low-lying roads and land near the river start to go under.

Moderate flooding reaches more roads, property and low ground.

Major flooding is extensive — the most serious category this gauge reports.

These words describe the river, not what you should do. Decisions about closing flood gates or leaving home come from the town and emergency services — follow them.

Who to contact

City of Sedona — emergency alerts & Know Your Zone · Call 928-282-3100 · More information

In any flooding emergency, call 911. Sign up for zone-based evacuation alerts and find your zone at the city page; the number above is the Sedona Police non-emergency line. Never drive into water over a road — turn around, don't drown.