Phoenix area faces flood watch, severe storms and small tornado chance
Storms could bring flash floods, damaging winds, hail and a small chance of a tornado to the Phoenix area on Wednesday and Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. A flood watch covers much of Arizona. The chance of an isolated tornado is under 5%, KTAR reported.
A strong weather system is expected to bring several rounds of showers and storms to south-central and eastern Arizona on Wednesday and Thursday, according to a briefing from the National Weather Service office in Phoenix. Rain could fall at more than 1 to 2 inches per hour, leading to flooding, the briefing said.
Some storms could turn severe, with damaging wind gusts, large hail and "even a small chance of an isolated tornado," the weather service said. The chance of an isolated tornado is under 5%, KTAR reported. Gusts could top 60 mph, weather service meteorologist Gabriel Lojero said, according to KTAR.
The weather service issued a flood watch for all of south-central and eastern Arizona for Wednesday and Thursday, its briefing said. KTAR reported the watch covers much of central and northern Arizona from 8 PM Wednesday to 5 PM Thursday Arizona time, which is 11 PM Wednesday to 8 PM Thursday Eastern time.
The most intense weather should begin Wednesday afternoon and last until Thursday morning, Lojero said, according to KTAR. A low-pressure system from the California coast and moisture from the south will combine to fuel widespread storms, he said. Some storms could "train," moving over the same area for an extended time and raising the flash flood risk, Lojero said.
The weather service added a major risk of heavy rain for the Arizona high terrain on Wednesday and Thursday, its briefing said. Conditions should gradually improve Thursday afternoon and evening as drier air moves in, Lojero said, according to KTAR.
Tornadoes are uncommon in the state. Arizona averages four to six tornadoes a year, usually rated EF0 to EF2, according to the Arizona State Climate Office, KTAR reported. Quieter weather and below-normal temperatures should return by the end of the week, the weather service said.
What we know: Forecasters expect heavy rain, possible severe storms and a small tornado chance in the Phoenix area Wednesday into Thursday.
What we don't: Exactly where the heaviest storms will hit. Only KTAR has reported this independently so far, and NewsHabit hasn't seen independent confirmation.
Where outlets agree The forecast comes from the National Weather Service's Phoenix briefing, which KTAR also reported with comments from a weather service meteorologist.
Where they differ The weather service briefing says the flood watch covers all of south-central and eastern Arizona, while KTAR reports it covers much of central and northern Arizona.