Record October Rain Brings Flooding To Phoenix Area

By Lauren Gilger, Steve Goldstein
Published: Tuesday, October 2, 2018 - 11:58am
Updated: Tuesday, October 2, 2018 - 2:12pm
Audio icon Download mp3 (8.45 MB)
Christina Estes/KJZZ
Rainwater pools on a residential street in Phoenix.

Monsoon's official end came over the weekend, but you can’t miss the heavy rains falling across the Phoenix area Tuesday.

More than an inch of rain fell on Tuesday morning in Central Phoenix — and Austin Jamison, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Phoenix, says we’ll continue to have a very wet morning commute.

As the remnants of Hurricane Rosa continued to rain down on the Valley on Tuesday morning, there has been everything from flooding, to road closures and multiple crashes.

Caroline Carpenter from the Arizona Department of Transportation gave some advice on dealing with road conditions.

"I really think it’s important to expect the unexpected. The weather can change very quickly and that means the conditions on the roads can change quickly. So, really you need to drive defensively,” Carpenter said. "Especially in rural areas, stay alert for any rocks that might end up in the roadway and have been knocked off a nearby slope because of the storm.”

ADOT also warned that drivers should avoid driving into standing water. The Flood Control District of Maricopa County said the rain is filled up washes, riverbeds, roadways and other low-lying areas.

Flood Control District manager Steve Waters said they’re keeping an eye on some areas.

The National Weather Service is calling for rain through Thursday with the largest concentration falling Tuesday.

This poses dangers for commuters and homeowners alike, with several flooding or flash flood warnings already being issued.

Matt Pace, a meteorologist with the state Department of Environmental Quality, also joined The Show to talk about it.

Science The Show