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Continuous thunderstorms and flash flood threats are expected across Arizona throughout Wednesday into Thursday morning.
A flash flood watch is expected to last until 6 a.m. Thursday morning, according to the National Weather Service in Flagstaff. Areas affected could include portions of northern and central Arizona, including northern Gila County, Yavapai County, Coconino Plateau, Mogollon Rim, White Mountains, Oak Creek and Sycamore Canyons.
A similar watch remains in effect for portions of south central and southwest Arizona until 5 a.m. Thursday, according to the weather service.
Scattered to widespread showers and thunderstorms capable of producing flash flooding are possible Wednesday night with up to 1 to 2 inches of rain per hour. Runoff is likely into washes and poor drainage areas, the weather service reported.
Flooding already occurred in areas west of Maricopa County. The weather service in Phoenix was concerned Wednesday about favorable thunderstorm areas north of Maricopa and Gila County like Lake Pleasant and Cave Creek.
The moisture and rainfall we saw Tuesday into Wednesday morning seemed to be remnants of Hurricane Nora, according to meteorologist Brian Klimowski, which is why there will be continuous thunderstorms through the night.
A flash flood warning in Gila County expired shortly after 11:20 a.m. Wednesday after floodwaters in Tonto Creek receded, according to the weather service. Drivers were advised to watch for road closures.
There is a difference between a watch and a warning, according to the weather service. A watch is issued when conditions are favorable for a specific hazardous weather event. For example, a flood watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flooding. A flood warning is issued when flooding is imminent or occurring.
Areas that have been impacted by wildfires are most likely going to see flooding, according to the weather service.
“Even in Gila County, as we’ve seen in the past couple months, it doesn’t take much rainfall for places that have been burned by wildfires to have flooding downstream,” meteorologist Andrew Deemer said.
Areas from Flagstaff along the Mogollon Rim to the White Mountains received a swath of 1 to 2 inches of rainfall. Counties including Mojave, southern Coconino and Apache, Navajo and much of Gila received the heaviest rainfall so far, according to a weather report from the National Weather Service in Flagstaff.
While flash flood warnings are still being issued throughout Northern Arizona, some counties may not receive any rain at all.
“While it might be dry at your house, or one part of the valley, the circumstances across town might be completely different,” Deemer said.
Reach breaking news reporter Caroleina Hassett at [email protected] or on Twitter @lena_hassett.
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