x
Breaking News
More () »

'One of the rainiest days': Streets flooded, schools closed as Rosa takes toll on Arizona

With 2.36 inches of rain since midnight, Tuesday became 8th wettest day ever in Phoenix.

It was a rainy and very wet day as showers spread across Arizona from tropical depression Rosa.

The rain started early in Phoenix Tuesday and didn't let up for hours. Flash flood warnings were issued as streets flooded and some Valley schools closed.

By the end of the day, Tuesday became the wettest day ever for October in Phoenix. The eighth wettest day of all time, and put 2018 as the third wettest October ever with nearly the entire month still to go.

WATCH: Flooding on Arizona Grand Golf Course

9:48 p.m.

Uncertain over the integrity of Menagers Dam, officials have evacuated more than 30 members of the Tohono O'odham Nation. The residents are being told to move as far to the north end of the Menagers Dam community as possible.

9:30 p.m.

A flash flood warning including Paradise Valley and Scottsdale is in effect until 12:30 a.m.

8:50 p.m.

NWS Phoenix says more showers are moving through the northeast parts of the Valley, which may bring more flooding.

8:10 p.m.

The rain in the Valley is starting to get lighter for the time being. NWS Phoenix says runoff could still pose problems.

7:45 p.m.

The National Weather Service in Phoenix has received multiple reports of flash flooding in Fountain Hills. A flash flood warning for the area is in effect until 9:45 p.m.

6:45 p.m.

Flooding on SR 51 at Cactus Road has caused the roadway to be restricted to the HOV lane in each direction, ADOT says.

6:07 p.m.

Phoenix, Mesa and Scottsdale are under a flash flood warning until 9 p.m. NWS says to move to higher ground if you are walking and encounter floodwaters and to never dive through a flooded road. Remember: Turn around, don't drown.

5:48 p.m.

NWS says Phoenix's rain total has gone up to 2.36 inches for the day. And another record was broken— it is now the EIGHTH wettest day on record.

5:20 p.m.

Pinal County says the Vekol Wash has flooded, causing several road closures in the area north of Maricopa. Officials say it may take until Wednesday afternoon to begin clean up and recovery efforts.

Hidden Valley Maintenance:

  • Ralston Road from Jean Drive to Mockingbird Lane, Vekol Wash running
  • Val Vista Road from Warren Road to Deer Trail, Vekol Wash running
  • Agate Road from Amarillo Valley Road to Quicksilver Road, flooded roadway
  • Sotol Road from Amarillo Valley Road to Quicksilver Road, flooded roadway
  • Meadowview Road from John Wayne Parkway to Green Road, flooded roadway
  • Amarillo Valley Road from Barnes Road to Teel Road, road washed out
  • Louis Johnson Drive from John Wayne Parkway to Amarillo Valley Road, road washed out

Casa Grande Maintenance:

  • Barnes Road from Pala Road to Stanfield Road, Santa Rosa Wash running

5:07 p.m.

Rain is starting to pick up again in the Valley just in time for the evening commute. NWS says moderate to heavy rain is possible.

4:47 p.m.

A Twitter user posted a video of water from Tempe Town Lake flowing into the Salt River.

4:27 p.m.

Phoenix officials say the intersection at 35th Avenue and Cactus Road will be closed until Wednesday evening as crews try to repair a sinkhole. Street Transportation crews are on site assessing the issue to determine the next steps for repair, the City of Phoenix said.

3:46 p.m.

A preliminary report from NWS says Rosa dumped 2.24 inches of rain on Phoenix on Tuesday, measured at Sky Harbor Airport. In the last three days, Rosa brought 2.63 inches of rain, which is more than Phoenix got the entire monsoon season (2.56 inches).

3:05 p.m.

WATCH: NWS's radar from 8 a.m. Sunday to 2 p.m. Tuesday shows Rosa's descent on Arizona.

2:48 p.m.

Sky 12 is over what appears to be a sinkhole near 35th Avenue and Cactus Road.

1:53 p.m.

NWS Flagstaff says "things are starting to quiet down this afternoon as the main moisture plume shifts east."

1:43 p.m.

Scottsdale firefighters are working to rescue a man from floodwaters near McDowell and Miller roads.

NWS Phoenix says the rain is "more scattered than before" with the heaviest hitting between Phoenix and Globe.

1:30 p.m.

There are 25 road closures, including parts of 19th, 7th and 35th avenues, after this morning's rain in Phoenix:

  • 11th Street at Hatcher Road
  • 19th Avenue at Dobbins Road to South Mountain Avenue
  • 19th Avenue at South Mountain Avenue
  • 19th Avenue at McDowell Road to Almeria Road
  • 34th Street at Jomax Road
  • 35th Avenue at Cactus Road
  • 40th Street at Baseline Road to Beautiful Lane
  • 44th Street at Shea Blvd.
  • 48th Street at Warner Road
  • 48th Street at Thistle Landing to Ray Road
  • 48th Street at Elliot Road
  • 51st Street at Elliot Road
  • 66th Street at Mayo Blvd.
  • 7th Avenue at Coral Gables Drive to Greenway Parkway
  • 7th Avenue at Greenway Road
  • Canterbury Drive at Thunderbird Road to North of Thunderbird Road
  • Cholla Street at Tatum Blvd.
  • Coral Gables Drive at Thunderbird Road to North of Thunderbird Road
  • Dobbins Road at 10th Avenue to 19th Avenue
  • Dobbins Road at 27th Ave.
  • New River Road at Circle Mountain Road to Saddle Mountain Road
  • North Valley Parkway at Dixileta Drive to Sonoran Desert Drive
  • Northern Avenue at 19th Avenue to 23rd Avenue
  • Oraibi Drive at 47th Avenue to 48th Avenue
  • Pinnacle Peak Road at Tatum Blvd.

Southbound Hayden Road is closed in Scottsdale between Chaparral and Camelback roads due to heavy rain and high water, Scottsdale city officials said.

1:03 p.m.

Good Samaritans are filling sandbags and helping pull out vehicles in the aftermath of cars being stuck in a flooded street near Cholla Street and Tatum Boulevard.

12:40 p.m.

"One of the rainiest days on record," NWS Phoenix says.

According to NWS Phoenix, it's the second wettest October day and ninth wettest day ever with 2.24 inches of rain at Sky Harbor so far.

12:18 p.m.

The Gilbert Fire and Rescue Department is investigating a false alarm at the Tutor Time at Recker and Guadalupe road caused by a rain leak.

12:12 p.m.

The underpass at Peoria Avenue and the I-17 has reopened in both directions after it was flooded by the rain earlier in the morning.

Credit: 12 News
The Peoria Aevnue underpass near I-17 was flooded by the rain on Oct. 2, 2018.
12:08 p.m.School has been canceled at Ashland Ranch Elementary School in Gilbert. School officials say the school is without power and parents are being notified to come pick their students up.

A flash flood warning has been issued for portions of central Navajo County.

11:58 p.m.All Maricopa County Colleges are closed today due to "extreme weather and dangerous driving conditions," officials say. Campuses will resume regular activity tomorrow.11:48 a.m.

City of Scottsdale says the Cactus Aquatic & Fitness Center is closed due to standing water.

11:38 a.m.WATCH: Rain video from 12 News viewers across Arizona

Waterman Wash in the Rainbow Valley area has flooded the only road in and out of the area. Team 12's Nicole Zymek was told the people who live on the other side of the floodwaters are stuck until the water recedes.

11:28 a.m.

Over 1,500 APS customers affected by a service interruption to a major power line during storm from Cactus Road to Shea Boulevard and 44th Street to 52nd Street.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety says troopers have responded to more than 80 crashes this morning.

11:05 a.m.

Rain to the north and west of Tucson, NWS Tucson says.

Sky Harbor has received 2.22 inches of rain since midnight. A flash flood warning in effect for Maricopa County until 3 p.m.

10:49 a.m.

NWS Flagstaff says "numerous reports of 3+ inches" of rain between Phoenix area and southern and eastern Yavapai County.

10:40 a.m.

Phoenix rainfall total now at 2.20 inches.

10:22 a.m.

City of Scottsdale says all unbridged crossing of the Indian Bend Wash are closed. Running water has closed McCormick Parkway between Scottsdale and Hayden roads.

10:16 a.m.

Majority of the rain is spreading north and east, according to NWS Phoenix.

"Remember, even if the rain has ended in your area, washes will still be running so use extra caution!" NWS Phoenix says.

10:05 a.m.

NWS Phoenix says today (so far) is the 10th wettest day ever for Phoenix.

9:51 a.m.

Sky Harbor has recorded over two inches of rain today, making it the 5th wettest October (so far) in Phoenix.

9:27 a.m.

SR-51 flooded at Cactus Road. ADOT says there's standing water on northbound right lanes, but the highway remains open.

9:24 a.m.

October rainfall total moves into 7th place with 2.15 inches recorded so far.

9:12 a.m.

Rainfall total in Phoenix continues to climb. It's now at 1.67 inches. NWS Phoenix says this is already the 8th wettest October on record.

9:01 a.m.

NWS Flagstaff is warning of heavy rain accumulation, 1 to 2.5 inches in some areas, between Flagstaff and Phoenix.

8:52 a.m.

And Phoenix has officially crossed the inch and a half mark for total rainfall today.

8:42 a.m

Phoenix's rainfall total keeps rising (now at 1.43 inches) as radar shows most of the rain across the central Valley.

8:29 a.m.

Phoenix at 1.35 inches of rain now.

8:23 a.m.

A third elementary school, Rainbow Valley Elementary School in Buckeye, has closed today due to flooding.

Phoenix has seen over 1.21 inches of rain so far this morning with more still to come.

8:06 a.m.

Desert Horizon Elementary School in Phoenix is closed due to severe flooding. According to a message on the school website, the school is closed as it assesses the damage caused by the flooding.

Pendergast Elementary School District says Rio Vista Elementary School has no power or phones as of 8 a.m. due to the storm and will also be closed today.

7:54 a.m.

Today's rainfall record of .60 inches set back in 1981 has been broken at Phoenix Sky Harbor, which has recorded over an inch of rain since midnight.

7:35 a.m.

A flash flood warning has been issued for the Valley until 10:30 a.m.

Peoria Avenue is closed in both directions at the I-17 because of flooding.

7:20 a.m.

A flash flood warning is in effect for Maricopa until 1:15 p.m.

6:55 a.m.

Cordes Junction has seen .74 inches in the last 6 hours while Sunset Point has seen .66 inches and Payson .57 inches.

6:33 a.m.

Flood advisory in effect until 10:15 a.m. for Gila Bend.

NWS Tucson says the "main focus of precipitation" is west through north of the Tucson metro area. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected to continue across southeastern Arizona this afternoon and evening.

6:20 a.m.

Phoenix is nearing that inch mark in terms of the rainfall we've seen so far courtesy of tropical depression Rosa. And more is still to come.

The record rainfall for today is .60 inches set in 1981. That record should be broken today.

6:13 a.m.

National Weather Service Flagstaff says significant rainfall is expected in some areas of Northern Arizona, but "forecast totals are considerably lower than previous forecasts." Flagstaff now forecast to see up to an inch while the greatest amounts will be along and south of the Mogollon Rim at 1 to 2 inches.

5:59 a.m.

A flash flood warning has been issued for Gila Bend and surrounding areas until 9:45 a.m. A urban and small stream flood advisory is in effect for the Valley.

5:51 a.m.

The roads around the Valley are soaking wet this morning, and if you forgot that umbrella walking into work, you probably got drenched.

Showers will continue through the morning, with brief pockets of some heavier precipitation.

Before You Leave, Check This Out