Overnight monsoon storms hit Phoenix metro area with heavy rain and flash flooding

A surge of monsoon thunderstorms pushed into the Phoenix metro area Thursday night, bringing heavy rain, gusty winds and flash flood warnings across the Valley.

A flood watch was in effect for Maricopa County until midnight Friday and parts of Pinal County and southern Gila County until 5 a.m. Friday morning, the weather service said.

The National Weather Service said rainfall rates could reach 2-3 inches per hour in some places, with the heaviest rain expected overnight.

The storm is part of a broader monsoon surge that forecasters say could bring potentially dangerous weather to the Phoenix area overnight and into Friday morning.

The National Weather Service said a complex of showers and thunderstorms was expected to materialize between the Phoenix metro area and Gila County.

Flash Flood Warning including Maricopa County, AZ until 10:15 PM MST pic.twitter.com/0x8XdsPjES

— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) July 17, 2026

The threat was strong enough for cities like Chandler to setup DIY sandbag stations.

Related

Phoenix-area extreme heat warning probably will be extended again, NWS meteorologist saysPhoenix heat reaches record high Sunday with extreme heat expected through TuesdayHeat wave expected to bring record-breaking temps, heighten wildfire risk to parts of USAPS sets all-time electricity demand record as extreme heat strains Arizona power gridExtreme heat warning for metro Phoenix extended ahead of potential record-setting highsPhoenix area wakes up to rain, lightning, thunder, power outages