Monsoon brings flooding, dust storms, hail to Arizona: Live radar, updates
PHOENIX - Severe monsoon weather continues to roll across Arizona this week, with high winds, heavy rain, and dust sweeping across multiple counties.
On Wednesday, there is about a 30% chance of rain for the Phoenix area. Heavy rainfall is expected across the state, with flash flooding possible in the high county and in portions of southern Arizona.
A Flood Watch is in effect for much of the state through early Wednesday night.
Get the latest alerts, advisories in your area here.
Flooding threat remains in parts of northern Arizona
Storm chances are expected to increase, which poses a major threat for northern Arizona residents living near burn scars.
"The threat of thunderstorms will continue each day this week, with the highest chances on Tuesday," National Weather Service Phoenix tweeted. "Any storms that develop will be capable of producing heavy rain, frequent lightning, strong winds and blowing dust. Temperatures will remain a few degrees below normal."
Parts of Flagstaff have seen multiple rounds of flash flooding this monsoon season, and some residents in the area are having problems dealing with insurance.
"When the fire first happened -- I was here 12 years ago -- I knew that it was going to happen again because when the mountain burned, it flooded. So I called my State Farm rep and I said 'I'm going to need flood insurance.' They said you're not in a flood zone, and I said, 'I know, but we had the fire, and I'm going to need it.' And he said, 'OK, we'll get back to you.' Well, a week went by, and they didn't get back to me," said Chase Wilson. "That following Monday, I called and said, ‘remember how I said I was going to need flood insurance?’ And they were like, ‘yeah?’ ‘Well, my house flooded. It would have been helpful.’"
Wilson's property has been flooded six times, and each time, his house was damaged more and more. He said he went through his Arizona-based State Farm rep named Justin Simons, and the homeowner asked the local insurance agent if State Farm could backdate flood insurance, since he has the call logs proving he asked for flood insurance two weeks before this monsoon season turned into a nightmare.
"I looked up some Arizona laws saying that there were cases where a flood was caused by a fire, very similar situation. And under Arizona, they had the insurance company that was involved in that case pay for it. So in my claim, I sent them that information. I sent them verification that this was caused by the fire up there, the burn scar, the water, everything the county had," said Wilson.
Wilson said the example he provided was "Irrelevant".
We reached out to Simons' office, and workers at the office said they will get back to our request for information on the case. They did not. We also reached out to the national State Farm office with Wilson's claim number and information. Officials with that office replied with a statement that reads:
"We can't speak to the specifics of any claim due to our customer privacy policy. As an organization, we take pride in our customer service and are committed to paying what we owe, promptly, courteously, and efficiently. Each claim is unique and handled based on its own individual merits and the facts of the loss."
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Aug. 9 weather
In the Phoenix area, the far West Valley felt the storm's power Monday, with some neighborhoods experiencing high winds, rain, and even hail.
At about 9:20 p.m., the National Weather Service's office in Phoenix warned the Buckeye area of a severe storm and reported that a wind gust of 77 miles per hour had been measured by a huge dairy in the area. On Aug. 8, NWS officials say there is evidence that a microburst or a downburst hit the area around that time.
Dairy workers who live next to the Triple G Farm did suffer some damage to their homes, but no one was reported injured. The dairy stretches over 160 acres near Broadway Road and 228th Avenue, and it is home to Thousands of cows. Dairy officials say despite damage to several buildings and even minor damage to their grain silo, all of the cows were safe.
The rain continued to fall early Tuesday morning, however, it diminished close to sunrise before increasing in the afternoon hours.
Rain/flood safety tips
The American Red Cross' tips for heavy rain situations and flood safety:
- Turn around don’t drown! If you must drive and you encounter a flooded roadway, turn around and go another way.
- If you are caught on a flooded road and waters are rising rapidly around you, get out of the car quickly and move to higher ground.
- Tune in to your local radio, NOAA radio, or news channels for the latest updates.
- If your neighborhood is prone to flooding, be prepared to evacuate quickly.
- Follow evacuation orders and do not attempt to return until officials say it is safe.
- If power lines are down, do not step in puddles or standing water.
- If power is out, use a flashlight. Do not use any open flame as alternate lighting.
Be prepared and stay safe during the monsoon
"Most Valley residents know how quickly and furiously storms can move in and out, bringing strong winds, dust, rain, and flash flooding. These storms can cause interruptions in services, such as water, power, and gas," stated Captain Ashley Losch of the Glendale Fire Department.
GFD reminds residents of ways they can be prepared and stay safe:
- Have flashlights with extra batteries on hand.
- Have food that can be prepared without the need for cooking or refrigeration.
- Have at least one gallon of clean water for each person in the household.
- Have backup power for anyone requiring power for a medical device.
- Have backup power for cell phones that do not require charging.
- Have a first aid kit ready and accessible.
- Never drive into areas with flowing water; it takes less than 10 inches to wash a car away.
- Avoid flooded areas, such as washes.
- If waters are rising, seek higher ground.
- Do not approach downed power lines, the ground can be energized for up to 200 feet.
- Keep pets indoors during storms.