Flash Flooding in Arizona, November 20, 2019

Widespread rain, moderate to locally heavy, developed across the greater Phoenix area during the morning hours on November 20th. Isolated thunderstorms were embedded within the rain, locally enhancing rain totals. Some of the heavy rain affected the northeast portions of the Phoenix area including the town of Deer Valley, and resulted in an episode of flash flooding. According to local broadcast media, at 0846MST flash flooding resulted in the underpass at Interstate 17 and Greenway Road becoming closed. No accidents or injuries were reported.

Widespread rain, moderate to locally heavy, developed during the morning hours across the western portion of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area on November 20th. Isolated thunderstorms also were embedded in the rain, locally enhancing rainfall totals. The heavy rain resulted in a few episodes of flash flooding that affected areas around the town of Goodyear. At about 0856MST, the city of Goodyear reported several instances of flash flooding along Citrus Road that resulted in street closures. Citrus road was reported closed from Van Buren Street to Roosevelt Street; additionally Mcdowell Road westbound from Cotton Lane to Citrus Road was closed. They also reported that Citrus Road was closed from Thomas Road to Indian School Road. Finally, at 0913MST the department of highways reported that McDowell Road eastbound and westbound was closed between 187th Avenue and 191st Avenue due to flooding. There were no reports of accidents due to the flash flooding.

Widespread rains, moderate to locally heavy, developed across the greater Phoenix area during the morning hours on November 20th. Isolated thunderstorms were embedded within the areas of rain, locally enhancing rain totals. The heavy rains led to episodes of flash flooding, some of which affected the northeast portion of the Phoenix area including areas around the communities of Cave Creek. According to the Arizona Department of Highways, at 0951MST flash flooding caused the flooding of Tatum Boulevard between Dynamite Boulevard and Jomax Road. Tatum was closed in both the northbound and southbound directions. In addition, just a few minutes later a local emergency manager reported that Peak View Road was closed due to flooding about 6 miles southwest of Cave Creek. Fortunately there were no reports of accidents due to the flash flooding.

Widespread rain developed across the greater Phoenix area during the morning hours on November 20th; isolated thunderstorms were embedded in the areas of rain and they locally enhanced rain totals. Moderate to heavy rains affected areas to the northeast of Phoenix, including the community of Deer Valley, and resulted in some flash flooding. At 0930MST a local emergency manager reported that flash flooding forced the closure of an intersection about 4 miles east of Deer Valley. The intersection was near the Pima Freeway (Loop 101) and North 16th Street. No accidents were reported due to the flash flooding.

Widespread rain, moderate to locally heavy, developed across the greater Phoenix area during the morning hours on November 20th. Isolated thunderstorms were embedded within the rain, locally enhancing rain totals. The heavy rain resulted in some flash flooding that affected the northern portion of the Phoenix area including around the community of Cave Creek. According to a report from the Arizona Department of Highways, at 0927MST flash flooding resulted in the closure of the intersection of 7th Street and Cloud Road. There were no reports of accidents due to the flash flooding.

Widespread rains, moderate to locally heavy, developed across the northern portions of the greater Phoenix area during the afternoon hours on November 20th. Isolated thunderstorms also were present, helping to enhance rain totals. The heavy rain led to some flash flooding across far north portions of Phoenix which affected areas just to the south of the town of New River. At 1257MST, flash flooding forced a road closure near 19th Avenue and Irvine Road, located about 6 miles south-southeast of New River. The report was received via county official. A bit later at 1443MST, data from Maricopa County Flood Control District streamgage indicated that Desert Hills Drive was impassable at Skunk Creek. The flooding was located just east of the earlier report. No accidents were reported due to the flash flooding.

Widespread rains, moderate to locally heavy, developed across the northern portion of the greater Phoenix area during the afternoon hours on November 20th. The heavy rain resulted in episodes of flash flooding, some of which occurred north of Deer Valley and south of New River. Some of the flooding started early resulting in a large Flash Flood Warning being issued at 1230MST. Flooding continued well into the evening, and at 1908MST local fire and rescue reported that a swift water rescue was underway about 7 miles south of New River, to the east of Interstate 17 and north of the Carefree Highway. The Flash Flood Warning, which was in effect at the time of the rescue, continued through 2130MST. There were no reports of injuries, fortunately.

Widespread rain, moderate to locally heavy, developed across the northern portion of the greater Phoenix area during the afternoon hours on November 20th. The heavy rain led to episodes of flash flooding in areas between New River and Deer Valley; the flooding resulted in an initial issuance of a large Flash Flood Warning at 1230MST. Flooding continue into the evening and at 1845MST, the Arizona Department of Highways reported that North Long Shot Road was closed, just north of the Carefree Highway. The flash flood warning was in effect at the time of the flooding and remained in effect through 2130MST. No accidents were reported due to the flash flooding.

Widespread rains, moderate to heavy at times, developed across the northern portion of the greater Phoenix area during the afternoon hours on November 20th. The heavy rains led to episodes of flash flooding, necessitating the initial issuance of a Flash Flood Warning at 1229MST. Some of the flash flooding occurred near and just north of the town of Deer Valley. According to data from a local mesonet station, a part of the Maricopa County Flood Control District network, flash flooding resulted in the closure of the North Valley Parkway road crossing at Sonoran Wash; the crossway became impassable at 1428MST. The flooded crossing was located about 6 miles north of Deer Valley. Fortunately there were no accidents reported due to the flash flooding.

Widespread rain, moderate to heavy at times, developed across the northern portion of the greater Phoenix area during the afternoon hours on November 20th. The heavy rains, which affected areas around the community of Deer Valley, led to episodes of flash flooding which necessitated the issuance of a flash flood warning at 1229MST. The rain persisted well into the evening and the warning was eventually extended through 2130MST. According to data from a mesonet gage, a part of the Maricopa County Flood Control District network, heavy rain led to flash flooding at 7th Avenue at the east fork of Cave Creek, about 3 miles southeast of Deer Valley. The gage was located a short distance upstream of 7th Avenue. There were no reports of accidents related to the flash flooding, fortunately.