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Oak Creek (AZ) at Sedona

Highest listed crest 20.33 ftFlood stage 14.0 ft18 crests since 1982

The Oak Creek (AZ) at Sedona crested at major flood stage 1 time among the 18 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1982 to 2023. The highest, 20.33 ft on February 19, 1993, was major flooding, 6.33 feet above flood stage. 1 other gauge on the Oak Creek (AZ) crested above flood stage within a week of it, 1 at its own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
20.33 ft
February 19, 1993; 23,200 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
14.0 ft
Major flooding from 20.0 ft
Crests at major
1
12th of 47 gauges in Arizona
Most recent flood crest
March 22, 2023
16.40 ft, minor flooding
Location
Coconino County
Near Cottonwood (14.8 mi)

Flood stages

The thresholds the National Weather Service uses for this gauge today, and how many listed crests reached each.

Flood categories, Oak Creek (AZ) at Sedona
Action stage7.013Feb 15, 2019The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)14.01Mar 22, 2023Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage17.02Dec 29, 2004Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage20.01Feb 19, 1993Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

18 crests from 1982 to 2023. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Oak Creek (AZ) at Sedona, 1982 to 2023 510152025ft Flood stage 14.0 ftMajor 20.0 ft Nov 30, 1982: 11.59 ft, action stage; 9,460 cubic feet per secondDec 27, 1983: 9.25 ft, action stage; 5,130 cubic feet per secondDec 27, 1984: 7.98 ft, action stage; 3,380 cubic feet per secondNov 29, 1985: 9.15 ft, action stage; 4,980 cubic feet per secondOct 11, 1986: 7.96 ft, action stage; 3,350 cubic feet per secondMar 1, 1991: 9.32 ft, action stage; 5,240 cubic feet per secondFeb 13, 1992: 10.29 ft, action stage; 6,680 cubic feet per secondFeb 19, 1993: 20.33 ft, major flooding; 23,200 cubic feet per secondMar 6, 1995: 18.47 ft, moderate flooding; 17,100 cubic feet per secondFeb 13, 2003: 7.80 ft, action stage; 5,100 cubic feet per secondDec 29, 2004: 18.47 ft, moderate flooding; 19,000 cubic feet per secondDec 7, 2007: 11.34 ft, action stage; 9,820 cubic feet per secondJan 26, 2013: 8.32 ft, action stage; 5,070 cubic feet per secondMar 1, 2014: 6.12 ft, below flood stage; 2,500 cubic feet per secondMar 2, 2015: 10.95 ft, action stage; 9,130 cubic feet per secondDec 23, 2016: 8.01 ft, action stage; 4,700 cubic feet per secondFeb 15, 2019: 12.11 ft, action stage; 11,100 cubic feet per secondMar 22, 2023: 16.40 ft, minor flooding; 17,967 cubic feet per second Highest, 20.33 ft, Feb 19, 1993 1990200020102020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Oak Creek (AZ) at Sedona 1980s: 0 1990s: 2 2 2000s: 1 2010s: 0 2020s: 1 1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  1. These are the crests the local National Weather Service office lists for the gauge: the highest on record and recent crests. Lesser floods between them may be missing, so counts by decade are a floor.
  2. Categories use today's flood stages. Levees, dams and channel changes since a crest can make old and new stages not directly comparable.

Highest crests

Highest listed crests, Oak Creek (AZ) at Sedona
1Feb 19, 199320.33+6.33Major23,200
2Mar 6, 199518.47+4.47Moderate17,100
3Dec 29, 200418.47+4.47Moderate19,000
4Mar 22, 202316.40+2.40Minor17,967
5Feb 15, 201912.11−1.89Action11,100
6Nov 30, 198211.59−2.41Action9,460
7Dec 7, 200711.34−2.66Action9,820
8Mar 2, 201510.95−3.05Action9,130
9Feb 13, 199210.29−3.71Action6,680
10Mar 1, 19919.32−4.68Action5,240
11Dec 27, 19839.25−4.75Action5,130
12Nov 29, 19859.15−4.85Action4,980
13Jan 26, 20138.32−5.68Action5,070
14Dec 23, 20168.01−5.99Action4,700
15Dec 27, 19847.98−6.02Action3,380
16Oct 11, 19867.96−6.04Action3,350
17Feb 13, 20037.80−6.20Action5,100
18Mar 1, 20146.12−7.88Below flood stage2,500

The worst floods along the Oak Creek (AZ)

For this gauge's highest crests, the other gauges on the Oak Creek (AZ) that crested above flood stage within a week.

February 19, 1993: 20.33 ft here, major flooding

March 6, 1995: 18.47 ft here, moderate flooding

December 29, 2004: 18.47 ft here, moderate flooding

Gauges on the Oak Creek (AZ)

In USGS station-number order, which runs downstream within a river basin.

Flood gauges on the Oak Creek (AZ)
Sedona this gaugeAZ14.020.33 ft, Feb 19, 19931
Page Springs near CornvilleAZ8.019.15 ft, Feb 20, 19931

Other gauges in Coconino County

Flood gauges in Coconino County
Heather Wash7.512.19 ft, Jul 29, 20120
Supai17.023.40 ft, Aug 17, 20082
Tuba city27.029.79 ft, Jul 25, 20211

Coconino County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Arizona

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge OAKA3, retrieved October 30, 2026. Stages in feet on the gauge's own datum, not elevation. Crests are as the National Weather Service lists them; preliminary values may be revised.