Highlights
- Multiple vehicles were stranded in standing water on the Loop 101 on-ramp at Princess Drive in Scottsdale just after 2 p.m. Wednesday.
- A helicopter rescue pulled two people from a car stuck in a wash along State Route 238, about 20 miles west of Maricopa.
- Bush Highway is closed in both directions at State Route 87 and before Granite Reef Road; Usery Pass is also closed.
- A flash flood warning for Maricopa County was in effect until 5 p.m., with partial ground stops affecting flights into Phoenix Sky Harbor.
Multiple vehicles were stranded in standing water on the Loop 101 on-ramp at Princess Drive in Scottsdale just after 2 p.m. Wednesday as monsoon storms pushed heavy rain across Maricopa County. Arizona Department of Public Safety four-wheel-drive vehicles cleared the stranded cars by 2:40 p.m., according to Arizona's Family, which was corroborated by KTAR and 12News.
Around 12:30 p.m., first responders were called to a water rescue along State Route 238, about 20 miles west of the city of Maricopa, where a car with two people inside became stuck in a wash. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office dispatched a rescue helicopter; video from the Goodyear Fire Department showed crews pulling both occupants to safety. Mesa Fire and Medical Department crews also responded to calls about vehicles stuck in standing water, with all involved reported safe.
State Route 238 is closed between 75th Avenue and near 99th Avenue. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office reports Bush Highway is closed in both directions at State Route 87 and before Granite Reef Road, and Usery Pass is also closed. MCSO says residents should avoid the lower Salt River area.
The Flood Control District issued area lake alerts covering Bartlett and Horseshoe lakes, which expired at 3 p.m., and Lake Pleasant, which expired at 5 p.m. A flash flood warning for Maricopa County was in effect until 5 p.m.
Heavy rain also triggered partial ground stops at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The first was lifted shortly after 1 p.m.; a second ground stop affecting inbound flights was reissued around 2:30 p.m. and set to expire at 3:45 p.m.
MCSO advises drivers to avoid SR 238 and the lower Salt River corridor until conditions improve.
Sources
Every factual claim in this article traces to one of the sources below. See how we work for the editorial process.
- AZ Family (3TV/CBS5) retrieved 17/09/2026 00:53
Authored by The Scottsdale Signal. Drafted by AI from primary-source material under our beat-specific editorial guides; reviewed by humans before publish under our five-gate process. Sources retrieved at 17/09/2026 00:53. Every claim traces to a source.
