On July 19th, 1974 a severe thunderstorm and heavy rains caused flash flooding and extensive damage in Lake Havasu City.
National Storm Summary
Friday, a severe storm struck Grand Junction, Colorado with 72 mph winds causing damage to aircraft, trailers and power lines. The storm soaked Grand Junction, Colorado with 1.30 inches of rain in less than an hour. Late Friday night extensive flooding occurred between Needles, California and Lake Havasu City, Arizona, where power and phone lines were downed. Three persons drowned as a result of the floods.
National Flood Summary
July 22, 1974
"Considerable flooding occurred during the weekend in western Arizona and some nearby areas in California and Nevada. Some of the areas affected included Lake Havasu, Arizona; where three lives were reported lost by drowning; and Bullhead City and Kingman. Several roads and highways were closed by high water."
- Both above from the July 23, 1974 Edition of the Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin, NOAA
"Severe thunderstorm with winds to 80 m.p.h. and up to 2 inches of rain caused very extensive flooding of streets. Some streets had completely washed out sections 4 and 5 feet deep and some streets and normally dry washes were flooded with water up to 5 feet deep. Many cars were abandoned during the storm and a number washed away. Three members of one family were carried to their death and one injured when their station wagon was carried 3,000 feet down a wash by a wall of water 10 feet high. Damage to public and private property amounted to 1.7 million."
- Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena - July 1974, Volume 16, Number 7, NOAA
Those who lost their lives were members of the Parker family. The family member that survived was a 12-year-old boy.
More Weather History: Major Storms and Floods in Arizona 1862-1977
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