Overview
- A Flood Watch covers Wednesday for the Phoenix metro and much of Arizona with storm chances highest late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.
- Forecasters say storms could drop very intense rain at rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour with valley totals around 0.5 to 1 inch and higher terrain seeing 1 to 1.5 inches with isolated spots near 2 inches.
- Expected hazards include rapid flash flooding, damaging winds over 60 mph, frequent cloud-to-ground lightning, hail and blowing dust that can reduce visibility and disrupt travel and services.
- Officials and first responders urge people to avoid driving through flooded roadways or washes and to follow standard preparedness steps such as securing emergency supplies and checking on at-risk neighbors.
- Rain should taper later in the week as drier air moves in with temperatures warming toward the weekend and the rounds of rain may help reduce the Valley's seasonal rainfall deficit before monsoon ends on September 30.