Oct. 2, 1983 - The Tucson, AZ Flood
Heavy thunderstorms swept through Arizona, causing rivers to overflow on Oct. 2, 1983.
Rivers in the area rushed through ordinarily bone-dry land, leaving 10 people dead or missing. Damage was extensive over a swath of 200 miles.
In Tucson, a 4-foot high wall of water hit when the Santa Cruz River crested and closed all but one of the city's bridges and knocked out major power lines for more than 20,000 homes and businesses.
Torrents of rain fell and Tucson received more than 4 inches in a 36-hour period.
A newly constructed office building, valued at $500,000 was swept downstream by the Rillito River.
Clifton, a city about 100 miles northeast of Tucson, had already been extensively damaged by flooding. The banks of the San Francisco River overflowed, leaving area businesses under as much as eight feet of water.
The 4,200 residents of Clifton were left without electricity, water or phone service.
Related to the Story:Severe Vs. Dry Thunderstorms in the SouthwestVisit our Facebook Fan PageFollow us on Twitter Breaking WeatherWestern Weather with Ken Clark
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