As of 6:35 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026: The National Weather Service has issued flood advisories for parts of the western West Valley after early-morning thunderstorms produced moderate to heavy rain.
One advisory covers Buckeye, Tonopah, Wickenburg, Circle City, Morristown and Aguila until 7:15 a.m. The weather service said radar estimated between 0.25 and 0.75 inches of rain had fallen, with another 0.25 to 0.75 inches possible. Arroyo and small-stream flooding was expected, particularly in low-lying and poorly drained areas.
A second advisory remains in effect until 8:45 a.m. for Gladden and locations along Centennial Wash in western Maricopa County and eastern La Paz County. Radar estimated up to 0.75 inches of rain there, with up to another 0.75 inches possible.
The precise advisory text and any extensions or cancellations are available on the NWS Phoenix watches, warnings and advisories page.
What drivers should know
The advisories warn of minor flooding in normally dry washes, arroyos and other low spots. Conditions can vary sharply over short distances, especially before daylight. Drivers should not cross water covering a roadway and should use another route if a wash is running.
No flash flood warning covered Buckeye or the Phoenix metro as of 6:35 a.m. A separate flash flood warning issued by the weather service’s Flagstaff office covered rural southwestern Yavapai County near State Route 71.
At Luke Air Force Base, the weather service reported thunder at 5:35 a.m. The Surprise point forecast, updated at 4:42 a.m., gives a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms Thursday, with another slight chance after 2 p.m.
Residents should check current conditions before traveling because advisory boundaries and expiration times can change. The weather service’s flood-safety guidance stresses that most flood deaths occur in vehicles.
Featured image: West Valley Post editorial illustration generated with AI. It represents desert flood risk and does not depict the current advisory area or an actual roadway.
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