Flash Flood Warning 63, NWS Phoenix, AZ

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
400 PM MST Fri Sep 26 2025

.UPDATE...
Updated Aviation

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Widespread shower and thunderstorm activity will continue through
this evening across much of central and eastern AZ. Some of the
thunderstorms will be capable of producing strong to locally
damaging wind gusts, large hail, and heavy rainfall leading to flash
flooding.

- Shower and thunderstorm chances will continue this weekend,
particularly on Saturday across southwest AZ and southeast CA where
a few strong storms and locally heavy rainfall may occur.

- Below normal temperatures will prevail through the weekend before
gradually warming up to near normal by the middle of next week.

&&

.SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
A very active late morning through early afternoon has been observed
across much of south-central AZ with widespread thunderstorm
activity erupting across much of the Phoenix metro area with large
hail in excess of 1" in diameter, heavy rainfall leading to
instances of flash flooding, and strong winds observed. This entire
weather situation unfolding is due to a potent upper-level low
situated across southern CA, imparting strong upper-level ascent in
the form of strong divergence aloft across much of central and
eastern AZ. The ascent, in combination with deep subtropical
moisture with low-level mixing ratios of 10-13 g/kg will continue to
support additional shower and thunderstorm development through the
rest of this afternoon and early this evening. The latest SPC
mesoanalysis shows MLCAPE values in excess of 1000-1500 J/KG along
with 0-6km shear values in excess of 25-35 kts. Therefore, strong to
severe thunderstorms with strong to locally damaging winds along
with severe hail (1+" in diameter) due to cold 500 mb temperatures
of around -10C will continue to remain a threat. In addition to the
severe weather potential, the potential for flash flooding will also
continue, especially if there are training thunderstorm cells,
resulting in rainfall amounts of 1-2"+ in a very short amount of
time. A Flood Watch remains in effect from the Phoenix metro area
east to southeastward through much of Pinal, eastern Maricopa and
southern Gila County through this evening.

Heading into Saturday, the upper-level low is depicted by guidance
to stall over southern CA. Therefore, additional shower and
thunderstorm activity is likely with the latest guidance depicting
the greater convective coverage across southeast CA and southwest AZ
where the better moisture and instability will be focused with CAPE
values upwards of 500-1000 J/KG. The thunderstorm activity could
produce strong gusty winds as well as locally heavy rainfall leading
to localized flash flooding. Further east, across south-central AZ,
the moisture and instability is expected to be more meager and thus
any convective activity is expected to be more isolated and focused
across the higher terrain areas to the north and east of Phoenix. A
few isolated showers and storms cannot be completely ruled out
across portions of the Phoenix metro area.

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Ensembles continue to advertise the upper low lifting northeast of
the area during the day Sunday. Lingering moisture and  favorable
(albeit less robust) dynamics ahead of the low are expected to allow
for continued scattered showers and isolated afternoon
thunderstorms, though likely focused over the AZ high terrain.

By Sunday night into Monday, our region will transition more into
zonal flow to weak ridging as a deep Pacific low moves southward to
off the Pacific Northwest coast. This will help to usher in dry air
across the region ending any rain chances by Sunday night.

Temperatures will take a dive today into the weekend with the help
of the cut-off low and the rain cooled air. Forecast highs this
weekend are currently only in the upper 80s across the bulk of the
lower deserts, or 5-8 degrees below normal. Once we start to see
weak ridging back into our region early next week, highs should
creep up into the low to mid 90s by Monday or Tuesday.

&&

.AVIATION...Updated at 2300Z.

South Central Arizona including KPHX, KIWA, KSDL, and KDVT:
Multiple weather hazards associated with clusters of TSRA will
continue through early evening before a tendency for storms to exist
the area beyond mid evening. Erratic, gusty winds and briefly
reduced visibilities and lowered cigs into at least MVFR category
will be likely. Conditions should begin to improve around a 01-03Z
time frame, though cloud decks around 050-060 AGL may linger into
the overnight. Confidence is moderate that east winds will prevail
through Saturday morning, though some variability may be common
around SHRA/TSRA.

Another round of SHRA will be possible Saturday mid-morning with
cigs potentially hovering around 060. However, confidence is rather
low regarding timing and cloud heights with any of these SHRA.
Thereafter, a period of southerly cross runway winds will be
possible through much of the afternoon before attempting to veer
westerly around sunset. While another round of TSRA is possible
later Saturday afternoon, probabilities are too low to include in
this TAF package as activity may stay relegated to SW Arizona.

Southeast California/Southwest Arizona including KIPL and KBLH:
Developing SHRA/TSRA Saturday will be the primary weather issue as
cigs in a 080-100 AGL develops over the region. Winds should become
more variable in direction overnight with some SHRA likely
developing around KBLH. By mid/late afternoon, scattered TSRA should
begin to erupt over SE California/SW Arizona though exact coverage
and timing are more uncertain. Gusty winds and lowered visibilities
would be common with any TSRA directly impacting an aerodrome.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Expect fairly widespread showers and thunderstorms across the
eastern districts today with strong outflow winds, hail, and heavy
rainfall likely in some areas. MinRHs will range from 25-45% through
the weekend. Outside of thunderstorm impacts, winds will be breezy
at times with occasional gusts around 20-25 mph today. The slow-
moving low pressure system impacting the region should continue to
bring chances for wetting rains areawide on Saturday before drying
conditions begin Sunday into early next week. Below normal
temperatures will persist through at least Monday.

&&

.PSR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AZ...Flood Watch until 11 PM MST this evening for AZZ537-540>553-
     555>558-560>563.

CA...None.

&&

SHORT TERM...Lojero
LONG TERM...Whittock
AVIATION...18
FIRE WEATHER...Whittock/Smith

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Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
503 PM MST Fri Sep 26 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0500 PM     Flash Flood      3 SSE Scottsdale        33.46N 111.91W
09/26/2025                   Maricopa           AZ   Broadcast Media

            Car completely submerged near the
            intersection of East Roosevelt Road and
            North 77th Street due to flooding from
            Indian Bend Wash.

&&

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
508 PM MST Fri Sep 26 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0500 PM     Flash Flood      3 SSE Scottsdale        33.46N 111.91W
09/26/2025                   Maricopa           AZ   Broadcast Media

            Corrects previous flash flood report from 3
            SSE Scottsdale. Vehicle completely submerged
            near the intersection of East Roosevelt Road
            and North 77th Street due to flooding from
            Indian Bend Wash, with the driver of the
            vehicle rescued.

&&

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
526 PM MST Fri Sep 26 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0500 PM     Flash Flood      8 SSE Queen Creek       33.14N 111.58W
09/26/2025                   Pinal              AZ   Public

            Major flooding at North Gary Road about 1/4
            mile north San Tan Foothills High School
            with approximately 2 feet of rushing water
            and cars stranded.

&&

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
541 PM MST Fri Sep 26 2025

AZZ552-556-558-560-562-563-270130-
Southeast Gila County AZ-Tonto Basin AZ-San Carlos AZ-Globe/Miami AZ-
Superior AZ-Pinal/Superstition Mountains AZ-
541 PM MST Fri Sep 26 2025

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT GILA AND PINAL COUNTIES THROUGH
630 PM MST...

At 541 PM MST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Top Of The World, or 7 miles east of Superior, moving northeast at 20
mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Globe, Superior, Miami, Top Of The World, Central Heights-Midland
City, Cutter, Top-Of-The-World, Claypool, and Inspiration.

This includes the following highways...
US Highway 60 between mile markers 227 and 258.
AZ Route 70 between mile markers 253 and 260.
AZ Route 77 between mile markers 162 and 170.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 700 PM MST for
southeastern and east central Arizona.

&&

LAT...LON 3319 11088 3321 11093 3324 11094 3321 11101
      3321 11102 3328 11111 3361 11091 3337 11059
TIME...MOT...LOC 0041Z 218DEG 16KT 3330 11098

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

SDB