Heavy rain passes through Phoenix, causes flooding in parts of the Valley

PHOENIX — Heavy rain passed through Phoenix early Thursday, causing flooding in parts of the Valley and delaying travel time during the morning commute.

The storm dropped more than an inch and a half of rain near north Phoenix and Glendale, with parts of Surprise seeing just under an inch.

More than an inch was measured in Paradise Valley, while over three-quarters of an inch was recorded in Goodyear and El Mirage.

5:10 Radar Update: The heavies rain is currently falling across the central Phoenix area. We've got reports of localized flooding issues around the Phoenix Mtn Preserve and on some area roadways. Please avoid the area if possible #azwx https://t.co/yNJEM14Yye pic.twitter.com/Hd8N50CrxV

— The Flood Control District of Maricopa County (@FCDFloodInfo) August 4, 2022

A flash flood warning was in effect in Glendale and Paradise Valley until 10 a.m., according to the National Weather Service in Phoenix.

“It ended up being, not a necessarily powerful storm — the winds were just kind of mediocre with some gusts at 40 mph. Overall, it was just a large area of rain, lots of lightning. The heaviest rainfall just north of downtown,” Chris Kuhlman, a meteorologist with the weather bureau in Phoenix, told KTAR News 92.3 FM.

Heavy rain affected traffic, with flooding causing backups on Interstate 17 near Indian School Road in both directions around 5:45 a.m.

Flooding was cleared in the southbound lanes by 6:30 a.m., with the northbound lanes seeing some delays, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Flooded Lanes causing big backup Southbound I-17 near Indian School Underpass. #KTARtraffic #PHXtraffic pic.twitter.com/TCFjlwMW3J

— John Roller KTAR @KTARRoller 🚦🚧 (@ktarroller) August 4, 2022

Drivers were advised to not cross a flooded wash, even if it doesn’t look deep as a car could be swept away in just 12 inches of water, ADOT said.

More than .57 inches of rain was recorded at Phoenix Sky Harbor, bringing the Valley’s official rain gauge total to 1.1 inches since the start of monsoon season began on June 15.

Sky Harbor averages 2.43 inches of rain during the monsoon that ends Sept. 30.

It could be a busy week for monsoon weather in Phoenix with rain chances reaching as high as 40 percent over the weekend, according to NWS.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Jim Cross contributed to this story. 

Follow @KTAR923