Heavy Rain in Arizona
Every heavy rain event the National Weather Service has filed in Arizona, year by year, with the most significant episodes. Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
The most significant on the map
The most significant heavy rain episodes in Arizona.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The record
- Events
- 702
- Deaths
- 7
- Injuries
- 36
- Damage
- $4.0 million
Every year
The most significant
Ranked by deaths, injuries, damage and size together.
- Flash Flooding and Dust Storm in Arizona, August 13 to 14, 2021A classic bow echo developed along the Mogollon Rim in central Arizona around 1900MST on the 13th and merged with thunderstorm clusters that developed in south-central Arizona around 2030MST to form one southwestward-moving MCS that progressed all the way to the town of Yuma in…
- Blizzard and Heavy Snow in Arizona, December 7 to 8, 2009A powerful winter storm hit northern Arizona December 7th and 8th. This storm produced heavy snow, strong winds, and limited visibility in the high country. In the lower terrain, this storm produced heavy rain, damaging winds, and severe thunderstorms.
- Winter Weather and Heavy Rain in Arizona, January 9 to 10, 2018A compact upper low and a well-defined frontal band brought rain and higher elevation snow to northern Arizona. This caused traffic problems and a two hour delay for schools.
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Arizona, October 12 to 13, 2025A nearly stationary upper-level trough combined with tropical moisture remnants from Tropical Storms Priscilla and Raymond, which developed off the eastern Pacific, led to scattered to widespread thunderstorm activity across much of south-central AZ.
- Flash Flood and Hail in Arizona, October 5, 2010An unusual series of severe storms with damaging winds and hail struck many portions of the Phoenix area during the afternoon and evening hours.
- Flash Flood and Winter Storm in Arizona, January 20 to 23, 2010A very strong jet stream moving across the Pacific brought abundant moisture and significant precipitation to northern Arizona on January 21th. The snow level started out around 3400 feet with significant snow above 5000 feet.
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Arizona, July 6 to 8, 2014The first seasonal push of monsoon moisture fueled an outbreak of thunderstorms across the Mojave Desert and southern Great Basin. Many storms produced severe weather and flash flooding.
- Flash Flooding and Flood in Arizona, September 6 to 7, 2012A weak upper level disturbance combined with abundant moisture approaching 2 inches of precipitable water to generate widespread thunderstorms across southeast Arizona. Thunderstorms produced flash flooding and some produced damaging winds.
- Flooding and Hail in Arizona, September 1 to 20, 1999About 2 inches of rain fell in about 2 hours.
- Flash Flood and Heavy Snow in Arizona, March 1 to 2, 2014A winter storm impacted Southern Arizona on the first day of March. A strong low pressure system off the California coast opened up and dropped through the base of the trough over the southwest U.S.
- Flash Flood and Lightning Strikes in Arizona, July 20 to 22, 2016Increasing moisture brought scattered thunderstorms with heavy rain.
- Flash Flooding and Flood in Arizona, February 27 to 28, 2017The second of two low pressure systems hit northern Arizona with a generous moisture tap. This produced abundant snow above around 6,000 feet and heavy rain below that elevation. Several locations along and north of the Mogollon Rim experienced strong to high winds.
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Arizona, August 28, 2008Several waves of severe thunderstorms moved westward across the central and eastern portions of Maricopa County. Upper level winds were stronger than usual, and copious moisture combined with warm temperatures allowed storms to redevelop well into the night.
- Winter Storm and Heavy Rain in Arizona, February 3 to 4, 2008A classic cold mid to upper level trough originating near the Gulf of Alaska dug into Southeast Arizona providing Southeast Arizona with a cold rain and relatively low elevation snowfall.
- Flash Flooding and Heavy Rain in Arizona, July 23 to 25, 2021Deep monsoon moisture over northern Arizona and an area of low pressure moving over the area from the east brought more thunderstorms with heavy rain, flooding, and at least one funnel cloud.
- Heavy Snow and Heavy Rain in Arizona, December 7 to 11, 2007A strong area of low pressure from the Pacific Northwest brought heavy rain, very windy conditions, and high elevation snow on Friday December 7th through Saturday December 8th.
- Flash Flooding and Heavy Rain in Arizona, July 29, 2012Scattered thunderstorms developed across the deserts of south central Arizona, including the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, during the afternoon hours on July 29th.
- Flash Flood and Hail in Arizona, July 3, 2009A push of monsoon moisture triggered scattered thunderstorms over the Mojave Desert. A few storms produced severe weather and flash flooding.
- Flash Flooding and Heavy Rain in Arizona, August 26, 2013Thunderstorms produced scattered heavy rain across northern Arizona. Some storms lasted through the night. Some locations (Cottonwood, Sedona, Heber-Overgaard, and Parks) received an inch to an inch and a half in 24 hours without any flooding issues.
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Arizona, July 31, 2012Isolated strong thunderstorms developed across portions of the greater Phoenix area during the mid afternoon hours on July 31st. One storm produced a wind gust to 64 mph at the Deer Valley airport.
- Heavy Rain in Arizona, August 27, 2007Heavy rain caused a vehicle to hydroplane and crash on I-17.
- Flash Flooding and Flood in Arizona, September 8 to 10, 2014Showers and embedded thunderstorms developed across south central Arizona during the early morning hours on September 8th, and as the morning progressed the showers intensified and became more and more widespread.
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Wind in Arizona, July 10, 2018Scattered thunderstorms moved slowly northwest across southeast Arizona. Heavy rain caused flash flooding in Pima and Pinal Counties and especially in Marana where up to three inches of rain caused widespread flash flooding and considerable damage including a train derailment…
- Damaging Winds and Heavy Rain in Arizona, August 28, 2010Strong thunderstorms across south-central Arizona produced damaging winds, hail and extremely heavy rainfall. Heavy rain with near zero visibility led to a massive traffic pileup in downtown Phoenix.
- Flash Flooding and Heavy Rain in Arizona, August 19 to 21, 2014Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms developed across much of central Arizona during the morning hours on August 19th, and they moved steadily towards the northeast for a period of several hours, affecting the greater Phoenix metropolitan areas as well as higher…
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Sources
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24.