PHOENIX'S DRY SALT RIVER RAGES — Man Airlifted From Tree, 61,000 CFS

Phoenix's normally dry Salt River is raging through Tempe and Phoenix, and a man stuck in a tree since midnight was airlifted out by a sheriff's helicopter. A gauge below the Gila confluence passed 61,000 cfs on Monday night. Tempe Town Lake is closed, low water crossings are underwater and the Gila near Goodyear went from dry to 46,900 cfs in about 8 hours. Closures could last into next week. Figures as of midday Tuesday, November 3, 2026. CHAPTERS 00:00 — Phoenix's Dry River Comes Alive 00:32 — Stranded in a Tree Since Midnight 01:08 — "He Was Getting Fatigued" 01:41 — Highest Since 2010 02:16 — A River Behind Sky Harbor 02:47 — Tempe Town Lake Built for This 03:22 — Where the Water Comes From 03:59 — Why It's the Verde 04:40 — A Once in 150 Years Rain 05:15 — Not Since 1993 05:51 — McKellips Road Underwater 06:27 — The Lower Salt Shut Down 07:00 — Faster Than Anyone Can Swim 07:39 — South Phoenix and Laveen 08:17 — Dry to Raging in 8 Hours 08:55 — 61,000 CFS Below the Confluence 09:27 — Into Next Week 10:02 — Where to Watch Safely SOURCES National Weather Service Phoenix U.S. Geological Survey Salt River Project Tempe Fire Medical Rescue Department Tonto National Forest ABC15 Arizona AZFamily #SaltRiver #Phoenix #Tempe #ArizonaFlooding