RAIN AND HAIL:
Monsoon thunderstorms are often isolated. Some spots get hit hard and others are left completely untouched.
During the monsoon months of June, July, August and September, we receive an average of 2.43 inches of rain at Phoenix Sky Harbor. That's nearly one third of our yearly rainfall total.
Monsoon rain often comes so fast that our dry desert soil can’t take all of it in, causing it to run off and lead to flash flooding. Streets, washes and riverbeds fill up quickly and sometimes without much warning.
Our wettest monsoon occurred in 1984, when we picked up 9.56 inches of rain. The driest monsoon was just last year in 2023 when we saw only 0.15 inches of rain.
Sometimes, our monsoon storms can also bring hail.
If the air is cold enough, water droplets in the clouds can begin to freeze and collect on each other. When they begin sticking together, giant pieces of ice form.
These hail stones get bigger and bigger as they get carried up and down through the cloud until they eventually fall to the ground.
As they fall, the air temperature warms them up causing the ice to melt.
If the ice melts completely, it comes down as rain. If not, we get hail.
Typically, during the monsoon, the air is so warm that most hail melts before it reaches the ground.
FLASH FLOODING:
The two key elements of flash flooding are rainfall intensity and how long the rain lasts. Topography, soil conditions and ground cover play critical roles, as well.
Because our desert land is so dry, there is a hard crust on it which makes it difficult for the ground to absorb moisture. When water cannot seep into the ground, it runs off and collects in our low lying roads and washes leading to flooding.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, compiles detailed mapping of areas that have "a one percent chance to be equaled or exceeded in any year," which they deem the 100-year floodplains map. In other words, this map depicts areas that see flooding and have a chance for excessive flooding.
For a comprehensive look at floodplains mapping in the Valley, see the Maricopa County Flood Control District's map.
Many of those areas are marked around our state, warning drivers not to enter when flooded, but many drivers still try to chance it.
Remember, never try to cross a flooded roadway. There is no way to tell how deep the water really is and sometimes the road underneath has collapsed from the weight of the standing water.
If you do try to cross and need to be rescued, be prepared to face hefty fines.
In 2005, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office first invoked the “Stupid Motorist Law,” which was passed in 1995. The law requires drivers to reimburse the state for the cost of their rescue.
Here are eight tips to keep you safe when flooding strikes:
- Get out of areas subject to flooding. This includes dips, low spots, canyons, washes, etc...
- Go to higher ground.
- Do not attempt to cross flowing streams. A foot of water is enough to float most vehicles. Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles, including sport utility vehicles (SUV’s) and pick-up trucks.
- When driving, remember "turn around, don't drown." NEVER drive through flooded roadways or washes! Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most cars causing loss of control and/or stalling.
- If your vehicle stalls, leave it immediately and seek higher ground. Rapidly rising water may engulf the vehicle and sweep it, and you, away. Remember, it’s better to be WET than DEAD!
- Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers.
- Do not camp or park your vehicle along streams and washes, particularly during threatening weather conditions.
- NEVER try to walk, swim or dive through swift floodwaters. If you come across them, STOP, TURN AROUND AND GO ANOTHER WAY! Six-inches of fast-moving water is enough to knock you right off your feet.
