Highlights
- A Flood Watch is in effect for Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and most of metro Phoenix from Thursday afternoon through 5 a.m. Friday.
- Rainfall rates may exceed 2 to 3 inches per hour from slow-moving or training thunderstorms in a high-moisture environment.
- Flooding is possible in rivers, creeks, urban drainage areas, and low-water crossings across south-central Arizona.
- Residents in flood-prone areas should monitor updated NWS forecasts and be ready to act if a Flood Warning is issued.
FLOOD WATCH: The National Weather Service in Phoenix issued a Flood Watch effective Thursday afternoon through 5 a.m. Friday, July 17, covering Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and a broad swath of south-central Arizona that includes the full Phoenix metropolitan area, northern Pinal County, and southern Gila County.
The NWS warns that slow-moving thunderstorms, or storms repeatedly tracking over the same areas, could produce rainfall rates in excess of 2 to 3 inches per hour, driven by an elevated moisture environment. Excessive runoff may flood rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying locations. Urban drainage areas and low-water crossings are specifically cited as at risk.
The watch covers a wide geographic band: Aguila Valley, the Northwest Valley, Tonopah Desert, Gila Bend, Buckeye/Avondale, Cave Creek/New River, Deer Valley, Central Phoenix, North Phoenix/Glendale, New River Mesa, Scottsdale/Paradise Valley, Rio Verde/Salt River, the East Valley, Fountain Hills/East Mesa, South Mountain/Ahwatukee, Southeast Valley/Queen Creek, Superior, Northwest and West Pinal County, Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, Tonto Basin, the Mazatzal Mountains, Pinal/Superstition Mountains, Sonoran Desert National Monument, San Carlos, Dripping Springs, Globe/Miami, and Southeast Gila County.
The NWS advises residents in flood-prone areas to monitor updated forecasts and be prepared to act if conditions escalate to a Flood Warning. Full flood safety guidance is available at weather.gov/safety/flood.
The watch expires at 5 a.m. MST Friday, July 17.
Sources
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- api.weather.gov retrieved 16/07/2026 07:51
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 16/07/2026 07:51. Every claim traces to a source.
