Heavy Rain Brings Flooding Concerns Across Arizona Through Early Next Week

Arizona is in for two rounds of rain over the next few days, with the potential for flooding in many areas. Showers and thunderstorms will continue this afternoon and evening across central and eastern parts of the state before a quieter Saturday. A longer period of light to moderate rain will then arrive Saturday night and last into early Monday, bringing additional rainfall on already wet ground.

In the Phoenix metro and surrounding south-central areas, showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and early tonight could produce locally heavy rain of an inch to an inch and a half. After a break on Saturday, more steady rain is expected from late Saturday night through Sunday, with average totals of 1 to 1.5 inches in the Phoenix area. Flood Watches are in effect for both periods because the rain will fall on already saturated soils and may cause washes and streams to rise.

Across northern and central Arizona, including areas along and south of the Mogollon Rim, rainfall will be heaviest with the second system. Through this evening, 0.25 to 0.50 inches is possible with locally higher amounts near 1 inch in Yavapai and northern Gila counties. From Saturday evening through early Monday, 2 to 4 inches of rain is possible along and south of the Rim, which could lead to flash flooding and longer-lasting rises on larger rivers.

Southeast Arizona will see scattered showers and thunderstorms continue into this evening, with amounts so far mostly under half an inch. After a quieter Saturday with only isolated light showers, widespread rain returns late Saturday night through early Monday. Expected totals range from 0.5 to 1.5 inches in the valleys and 0.5 to over 2 inches in the mountains, with a Flood Watch in place for the entire region during that timeframe.

The higher terrain across central and eastern Arizona will pick up the greatest rainfall totals during the Sunday system, with 2 to 3 inches common and locally higher amounts possible. This prolonged rain on wet soils raises the chance of overflowing washes, flooding in larger creeks and rivers, and travel problems on secondary roads through early Monday. Rain should taper off Monday morning, leaving the rest of the week mostly dry.