Heavy rain developed across south-central Arizona, including the Phoenix metro area, during the early morning hours of Friday, 7 September 2012. Leftover storms from the previous night moved through Graham County and into Gila/Pinal counties between 2 AM and 3 AM. Storms intensified as they encountered abundant instability and moisture across southern Arizona and by 4 AM, rain was beginning to spread northward through Casa Grande, Coolidge, and Florence. Meanwhile, the atmosphere continued to destabilize to the north with an area of storms developing near Wickenburg and another area of storms near Payson. Shortly after 6 AM, storms began to converge on the Metro area, first reaching Apache Junction and Carefree/Cave Creek, then East Mesa/Gilbert/Chandler/Scottsdale during the peak of the morning rush hour.
The heaviest rainfall totals during the morning hours were across East Mesa and Apache Junction, where numerous rain gauges measured 1.5 to 2.5 inches of rain. One gauge near Higley Rd and Broadway measured 2.95 inches of rain, while a gauge near Saguaro Lake measured 2.56 inches. At the same time, gauges in the far northeast portion of the metro area measured 1.5 to 2 inches of rain. Bartlett Lake recorded 1.65 inches while Camp Creek saw 2.05 inches of rain. Rain totals across the west valley were substantially lower, with most locations west of 51st Ave only receiving a few hundredths of an inch at most.
Radar and satellite imagery indicate that the cluster of storms briefly re-intensified as they moved past South Mountain. Rain gauges near the Estrella mountains recorded over 1 inch of rain during this event, leading to substantial flow in the Waterman Wash in south Goodyear. This normally dry wash reached a depth of approximately 5.8 feet during peak flow Friday afternoon.
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Infrared (IR) Satellite loop from 5 AM to 2 PM 7 September 2012. Pink/Blue colors indicate cold cloud tops (intensifying storms), while yellow/gray colors indicate warming cloud tops (weakening storms). Loop size: 5mb |
Visible Satellite loop from 7 AM to 2 PM 7 September 2012. Images show storms moving from northeast to southwest. Note the small circulation in far southern Maricopa County near Gila Bend/Eloy/Kaka near the end of the loop. This is known as a Mesoscale Convective Vortex (MCV). These remnant circulations are sometimes observed after a cluster of storms has dissipated. Loop size: 4.6mb |
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Regional radar loop from ~5:45 AM to ~1 PM 7 September 2012. The heaviest rain is indicated by the yellow/red colors, especially evident north and east of Phoenix. Loop size: 8.1mb |
Zoomed radar loop over the Phoenix metro from from ~5:00 AM to ~2 PM 7 September 2012. The heaviest rain is indicated by the yellow/red colors, especially evident north and east of Phoenix. Also note that storms re-intensified (increase in yellow and red colors) as they encountered the Estrella mountains southwest of Phoenix. Loop size: 20mb |
Listed below is a brief summary of rainfall reports courtesy of the Flood Control District of Maricopa County.
...PHOENIX AND SURROUNDING AREAS RAINFALL REPORTS AS OF 9 PM SEPTEMBER 7 2012...
RAINFALL (IN)
LOCATION 1 HR 24 HR
SKY HARBOR ARPT PHOENIX 0.00 0.51
10TH ST. WASH BASIN #1 PHOENIX 0.00 1.06
ACDC @ 14TH ST. PHOENIX 0.00 0.59
ACDC @ 36TH ST. PARADISE VALLEY 0.00 0.94
ACDC @ 43RD AVE. PHOENIX 0.00 0.12
ACDC @ 67TH AVE. GLENDALE 0.00 0.04
ACDC @ CAVE CREEK PHOENIX 0.00 0.39
ADOBE DAM PHOENIX 0.00 0.20
AHWATUKEE PHOENIX 0.00 0.16
APACHE JUNCTION FRS APACHE JUNCTION 0.00 1.50
APACHE TRAIL APACHE JUNCTION 0.00 1.34
ARIZONA HUNT CLUB YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.08
ASHER HILLS MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 1.18
ASU SOUTH TEMPE 0.00 0.35
AZTEC PARK SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.16
BARTLETT LAKE MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 1.65
BENDER WASH MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.08
BERNEIL WASH PARADISE VALLEY 0.00 0.16
BLACK HILL YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.04
BUCKEYE FRS #1 MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.79
BULLDOG CANYON MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 1.26
CAMP CREEK MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 2.05
CAREFREE RANCH SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.47
CARRIAGE LANE PARK MESA 0.00 0.28
CASANDRO WASH WICKENBURG 0.00 0.04
CASTLE HOT SPRINGS MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.16
CAVE BUTTES DAM MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.20
CAVE CR.@ SPUR CROSS MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.16
CAVE CREEK CAVE CREEK 0.00 0.75
CAVE CREEK @ CACTUS PHOENIX 0.00 0.28
CAVE CREEK LANDFILL PHOENIX 0.00 0.75
CENTENNIAL NR AGUILA MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
CENTENNIAL WASH MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
CHANDLER @ ALMA SCHOOL CHANDLER 0.00 0.94
CHANDLER AIRPORT CHANDLER 0.00 0.75
CLINE CREEK MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
CLOUDBURST WASH FOUNTAIN HILLS 0.00 0.28
COLUMBIA HILL YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.28
COOKS MESA YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.24
COPPER WASH MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
COYOTE WASH MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
CROSSROADS PARK GILBERT 0.00 0.24
CROWN KING YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.47
DEAD HORSE WASH MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
DEER VALLEY AIRPORT PHOENIX 0.00 0.47
DESERT HILLS WASH MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.55
DESERT MTN. SCHOOL MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.12
DEWEY YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.20
DREAMY DRAW DAM PHOENIX 0.00 0.87
EAST FORK CC #1 PHOENIX 0.00 0.12
EAST FORK CC #3 PHOENIX 0.00 0.24
EAST FORK CC #4 PHOENIX 0.00 0.12
EFCC NR 7TH AVE. PHOENIX 0.00 0.47
ELLIOT @ HAWES RD. MESA 0.00 1.42
EMF @ ARIZONA AVE. PINAL COUNTY 0.00 1.06
EMF @ BROADWAY MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 2.95
EMF @ QUEENCREEK RD. MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.94
ESTRELLA FAN MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 1.02
FALCON FIELD MESA 0.00 0.63
FITCH PARK MESA 0.00 0.63
FLORENCE JUNCTION PINAL COUNTY 0.00 0.24
FOUNTAIN HILLS FD FOUNTAIN HILLS 0.00 0.59
FOUR MILE WASH MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.08
FRAESFIELD MTN. SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.47
FREESTONE BASIN GILBERT 0.00 1.02
G&F WOOLSEY PEAK MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.16
GARFIAS MTN. RANCH YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.04 0.12
GATEWAY C.COLLEGE PHOENIX 0.00 0.55
GILA @ MARICOPA RD GILA RIVER IC 0.00 0.51
GILA @ OLBERG GILA RIVER IC 0.00 0.24
GOLDEN EAGLE BLVD. FOUNTAIN HILLS 0.00 0.35
GRAND @ 27TH AVE. PHOENIX 0.00 0.04
GRANITE REEF MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.63
GRANITE REEF WASH SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.59
GRASS WASH @ US 60 MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
GREENWAY @ 32ND AVE. PHOENIX 0.00 0.35
GUADALUPE CHANNEL MESA 0.00 1.10
GUADALUPE FRS PHOENIX 0.00 0.16
HASSAYAMPA LANDFILL MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.28
HASSY R. @ I-10 MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.94
HESPERUS DAM FOUNTAIN HILLS 0.00 0.35
HESPERUS WASH FOUNTAIN HILLS 0.00 0.94
HIGHLAND @ 68TH ST. SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.83
HORSESHOE LAKE MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
HORSESHOE RANCH YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.59
HORSETHIEF BASIN YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 1.54
HUMBOLDT MOUNTAIN MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 1.02
I-10 @ 355TH AVE. MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.59
IBW @ INDIAN BEND RD. SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.08
IBW @ INDIAN SCHOOL SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.83
IBW @ MCKELLIPS RD. SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.51
IBW @ SHEA BLVD. PHOENIX 0.00 0.24
IBW @ SWEETWATER PHOENIX 0.00 0.20
IBW INTERCEPTOR SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.35
JEFFERSON @ 4TH AVE. PHOENIX 0.00 0.08
KINGS RANCH PINAL COUNTY 0.00 0.75
KLEINMAN PARK MESA 0.00 0.28
LAKE MARGUARITE SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.12
LAKE PLEASANT PEORIA 0.00 0.28
LAKE PLEASANT NORTH PEORIA 0.00 0.12
LOST DOG WASH SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.12
MAGMA FRS PINAL COUNTY 0.00 0.28
MARYLAND @ 27TH AVE. PHOENIX 0.00 0.12
MCDOWELL @ HAWES MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 1.69
MCDOWELL @ MERIDIAN PINAL COUNTY 0.00 1.10
MCDOWELL MTN. PARK MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.98
MCDOWELL MTN. ROAD MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.43
MESA TOWER MESA 0.00 0.83
MID-MARTINEZ CREEK YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.04
MINNEHAHA YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.43
MISSOURI @ 16TH ST. PHOENIX 0.00 0.55
MOBILE MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.28
MOUNTAIN VIEW PARK MESA 0.00 0.83
MT. ORD GILA COUNTY 0.00 0.28
MT. UNION WX YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 1.73
NEW RIVER @ BELL RD. PEORIA 0.00 0.04
NEW RIVER DAM PEORIA 0.00 0.04
NEW RIVER FIRE MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
NEW RIVER LANDFILL MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.35
NEW RIVER MESA MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.24
NORTH HEIGHTS DAM FOUNTAIN HILLS 0.00 0.24
OLD X-CUT @ MCDOWELL PHOENIX 0.00 0.98
OSBORN @ 64TH ST. SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.94
OUTLAW HILL MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
PAPAGO PARK PHOENIX 0.00 0.71
PARADISE VALLEY CC PARADISE VALLEY 0.00 0.87
PARADISE VALLEY PARK PHOENIX 0.00 0.12
PATTON ROAD MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
PECOS BASIN MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.20
PERRY PARK PHOENIX 0.00 0.43
PHOENIX BASIN #3 PHOENIX 0.00 1.18
PHOENIX BASIN #7 PHOENIX 0.00 0.71
PHOENIX WEST PARK PHOENIX 0.00 0.35
PIMA @ JOMAX SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.04
PIMA @ UNION HILLS SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.16
PINNACLE PEAK VISTA SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.28
POWERLINE FLOODWAY MESA 0.00 0.98
POWERLINE FRS PINAL COUNTY 0.00 0.87
PRICE DRAIN @ 202 MESA 0.00 0.35
QUEEN CR @ RITTENHOUSE MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.12
QUEEN CR. @ CAP PINAL COUNTY 0.00 0.39
QUEEN CREEK LANDFILL QUEEN CREEK 0.00 0.31
QUEEN CREEK RD. MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.43
RACKENSACK CANYON MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.75
RAWHIDE WASH SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.08
REATA PASS DAM SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.47
REATA PASS WASH SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.20
RITTENHOUSE FRS PINAL COUNTY 0.00 0.43
ROESER @ 2ND ST. PHOENIX 0.00 0.16
SAGUARO LAKE MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 2.56
SALT R. @ 40TH ST. PHOENIX 0.00 0.51
SALT R. @ PRIEST DR. TEMPE 0.00 0.71
SALT RIVER LANDFILL SALT RIVER IC 0.00 0.24
SAND TANK WASH MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 1.57
SANTA CRUZ @ SR 84 PINAL COUNTY 0.00 0.08
SAUCEDA WASH MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
SEVEN SPRINGS YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.04 0.51
SEVEN SPRINGS WASH MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 1.97
SIGNAL BUTTE FRS MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 1.42
SKUNK CREEK @ I-17 PHOENIX 0.00 0.79
SKUNK TANK WASH MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
SMITH PEAK LA PAZ COUNTY 0.00 0.04
SOLS TRIB @ US 93 YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.04
SOUTH MOUNTAIN PARK PHOENIX 0.00 0.08
SOUTH MTN.PARK HQ PHOENIX 0.00 0.05
SPOOKHILL BROWN MESA 0.00 2.01
SPOOKHILL FRS MESA 0.00 0.59
SPOOKHILL MCKELLIPS MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 1.89
STAGECOACH WASH SCOTTSDALE 0.00 1.26
STONERIDGE DAM FOUNTAIN HILLS 0.00 0.39
SUNRIDGE CANYON DAM FOUNTAIN HILLS 0.00 0.24
SUNSET POINT YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.31
SUNUP RANCH MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.20
TAT MOMOLIKOT DAM PINAL COUNTY 0.00 0.28
TATUM BASIN INFLOW PHOENIX 0.00 0.28
THOMAS @ 16TH ST. PHOENIX 0.00 0.31
THOMAS @ 48TH ST. PHOENIX 0.00 0.94
THOMPSON PEAK SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.67
THUNDER MOUNTAIN MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 1.50
THUNDERBIRD ACADEMY SCOTTSDALE 0.00 0.35
TOWERS MTN. YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.91
UPPER CLINE CREEK MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.08
UPPER GRASS WASH MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
UPPER TIGER WASH MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
UPPER TRILBY WASH YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 0.16
UPPER WATERMAN WASH MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.04
USERY MTN. PARK MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 1.02
USERY PARK WS MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 1.57
VINEYARD FRS PINAL COUNTY 0.00 0.83
WATERMAN WASH MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 1.14
WEEKES WASH BASELINE APACHE JUNCTION 0.00 1.30
WHITE TANK PEAK MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.35
WHITLOW RANCH DAM PINAL COUNTY 0.00 0.24
WILHOIT YAVAPAI COUNTY 0.00 1.30
WILLIAMS FIELD ROAD MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.75
WOLVERINE PASS MARICOPA COUNTY 0.00 0.83
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