***************FLOODING****************** Heavy rain in the Phoenix metro area Tuesday flooded streets, low-water crossings and at least one major freeway. Interstate 17 was flooded north of New River, stranding vehicles. At least one rockslide was reported about eight miles north of New River. A 13-mile stretch of I-17 northbound was closed from L-303 to Table Mesa due to flooding and mudslides. Phoenix Fire Captain Benjamin Santillan said at one time there were seven water rescues happening throughout the Valley at once He also said multiple fire crews were responding and assisting. He said many of the rescues occurred in places where roads dip. Some residents in Black Canyon City were evacuated, including those at the Rivers Edge Trailer Park, according to ABC15 Arizona. Parts of northern Maricopa County had already topped 4 inches of rain as of late Tuesday morning. Rain fell at the rate of 1.38 inches in 35 minutes near Beardsley on the citys far northwest side, and 1.75 inches of rain fell in just 45 minutes in the north suburb of Peoria. These amounts are greater than the average rainfall for the entire month of August at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (1 inch). Phoenix typically picks up a quarter of its average yearly precipitation in the months of July and August combined. Areas of locally heavy rain also swamped other parts of Arizona, Nevada and Utah on Monday and Tuesday. Several streets were closed in Kingman, Arizona, early Tuesday. Six to 10 homes and garages were flooded in Washington City, Utah, and streets were flooded on the southeast side of Tucson on Monday afternoon. August is heart of the Desert Southwests thunderstorms season, thanks to a flow of moist air from the eastern Pacific Ocean, Gulf of California and occasionally from the Gulf of Mexico. Combined with the heating of the desert, thunderstorms with heavy rain can erupt, sometimes for several days in a row, bringing locally flooding rainfall.
Posted on: Tue, 19 Aug 2014 19:06:40 +0000
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