Flood risk intensifies across Arizona as heavy rain targets the Southwest

The National Weather Service placed large portions of the Southwest, including nearly all of central and northern Arizona, under a level-three-of-four flood risk. Parts of Colorado and New Mexico were also expected to be affected. [1][2][3]

Flood watches covered nearly all of Arizona and parts of southern Utah, southwestern Colorado and western New Mexico. The Four Corners region, where the four states meet, had been particularly hard hit by recent rain. [1][2][3]

Forecasters said the region could receive as much as four inches of rain through Monday. The Weather Prediction Center’s Allison Santorelli said some locations would be affected by relatively little additional rainfall. [1][2][3]

Arizona emergency crews had already carried out vehicle rescues on flooded streets. Phoenix firefighters reported several rescues on Friday night, while Scottsdale crews rescued people from two vehicles after one drove into floodwater. [1][2][3]

The threat was expected to shift east on Monday, with a level-one-of-four flash-flood threat stretching from Texas to Wisconsin. FOX Weather said nearly 40 million people were under that broader threat. [1][2][3]