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Flash flooding in Maricopa County typically results from intense short duration rainfall events, such as during summer monsoon storms. There may be little or no time for a warning other than a general alert from the National Weather Service. Storms that are large enough to produce flood levels along major watercourses often take many hours to develop. Flood warning times can vary from hours to days, and depend on storm location, direction, intensity, duration, and area topography, and to some extent on releases of water from dams. Local dam operators (such as Salt River Project) issue news releases and contact local municipalities when they must release large amounts of water downstream.
The Flood Control District operates a flood threat recognition system called ALERT (Automated Local Evaluation in Real Time). ALERT data is collected by rainfall and streamflow gages. The District monitors 300 automatic rain gages, 149 automatic stream gages and 30 automatic weather stations throughout Maricopa and neighboring counties that affect our watersheds. The gage data is sent by radio transmission back to the base station at the District. District staff is able to relay the gage readings to the National Weather Service, the Maricopa County Department of Emergency Management and local dam operators. These agencies use this information to issue the appropriate warnings and prepare for evacuations, if necessary.
View the National Weather Service forecast for Phoenix and the surrounding area that includes watches and warnings for Maricopa County.
A Flash Flood Watch is a statement issued by the National Weather Service that a storm or flood of significant magnitude is likely to occur.
- Tune in to the radio or television for current weather information in your area.
- Look for distant "thunderhead" clouds in the sky, a likely source of heavy rainfall.
- While driving, look ahead for flooding over bridges, in dips in the roadway, and in washes and other low areas. Do NOT drive through a flooded stretch of roadway, especially if the water is moving.
A Flash Flood Warning is a statement issued by the National Weather Service that flash flooding has occurred or is imminent.
- Tune in to the radio or television for current weather information in your area.
- If you are downhill from thunderstorm activity, be prepared to stop on high ground near highway dips.
- Watch for lightning flashes and listen for thunder, signs that a severe storm is overhead.
- While driving, slow down and look ahead for water-filled dips in the road. Do NOT drive through a flooded stretch of roadway, especially if the water is moving. If your vehicle stalls in a flooded section of roadway, turn on the emergency flashers, abandon the vehicle and move to higher ground immediately.
The Maricopa County Department of Emergency Management (DEM) maintains emergency call lists of properties in certain locations that have experienced repeated flooding in the past. Residents on these call lists are notified when streamflow or rainfall gages upstream of their location indicate that flooding is imminent. You can call DEM at (602) 273-1411 to find out if your property is in one of these locations. You may also call this phone number to learn about evacuation routes, emergency shelter locations, aid for the physically challenged and other emergency information. You may also report flooding or learn where and how to submit a flood damage report.
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