Severe thunderstorms brought heavy rain and significant hail to Phoenix’s West Valley on Wednesday, with more adverse weather in the forecast.
A high weather alert has been extended through Thursday as the chance for overnight rain increases to 45-70%, raising the potential for a wet morning commute. A flood watch for northern parts of the Valley, including Scottsdale, Cave Creek, and the Deer Valley area, has also been extended until 6 a.m. Thursday. With the ground already saturated from previous storms, any additional rainfall increases the risk of flooding.
Wednesday afternoon’s string of thunderstorms moved northeast from Avondale and Tolleson toward Glendale and Peoria. The severe weather caused a partial roof collapse at Desert Sky Mall in west Phoenix, which led to dozens of evacuations. The conditions also prompted the FAA to issue a temporary ground stop for flights heading to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, with some departing flights experiencing delays of an hour or more.
At the height of the storm, more than 7,000 customers of SRP and APS were without power, primarily in Glendale and west Phoenix. By 9 p.m., service had been restored to most residents.
While the Valley is expected to be dry Thursday afternoon, a new weather system is forecast to move into the state Thursday night, increasing rain chances in western Arizona by Friday morning. The Phoenix area has a 30% chance of rain for Saturday and Sunday, though rainfall amounts are still uncertain.
In Arizona’s High Country, snow levels are forecast to drop to around 6,500 feet through Thursday. Flagstaff could see an additional one to two inches of snow, with heavier accumulations possible in eastern Arizona as the system shifts east.
Temperatures in the Valley will remain in the mid-60s for the next few days. Drier conditions and highs in the 70s are expected to return next week.
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