Highlights
- NWS Phoenix issued a Flash Flood Warning for Maricopa, AZ at 12:17 a.m. Monday, expiring at 1:15 a.m.
- Doppler radar confirmed 1.25 to 1.75 inches of rain had already fallen, with flooding ongoing.
- Twelve named washes and drainages are affected, including the Hassayampa River.
- Officials warn drivers to turn around on flooded roads — most flood deaths occur in vehicles.
FLASH FLOOD WARNING: The National Weather Service in Phoenix issued a Flash Flood Warning for Maricopa, AZ at 12:17 a.m. Monday, August 31, effective through 1:15 a.m. MST. The agency rated the event severe.
Doppler radar confirmed thunderstorms had dropped between 1.25 and 1.75 inches of rain across the warned area by the time the alert was issued. Flash flooding was ongoing at that hour, the NWS said.
The warning covers mainly rural areas of Maricopa County. Affected waterways include Jackrabbit Wash, Coyote Wash, Red Cloud Wash, Winters Wash, Powerline Wash, Beer Bottle Wash, Daggs Wash, Mill Wash, the Hassayampa River, Star Wash, Jimmie Wash, and Fourmile Wash.
The NWS described the hazard as life-threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets, and underpasses.
The agency urged drivers to turn around on flooded roads, noting that most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Nighttime conditions were flagged as an added risk, as darkness makes it harder to gauge flood depth.
Anyone who observes flooding is asked to report it to local emergency services or law enforcement and request that information be passed to the National Weather Service.
The warning expires at 1:15 a.m. MST; check api.weather.gov for any extensions or follow-on advisories.
Sources
Every factual claim in this article traces to one of the sources below. See how we work for the editorial process.
- api.weather.gov retrieved 31/08/2026 07:21
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 31/08/2026 07:21. Every claim traces to a source.
