NWS Forecast Office Phoenix, AZ

A Flood Watch has been issued for much of Maricopa County, Northwestern Pinal County, and Southern Gila County on Friday. Showers and thunderstorms will develop across portions of Southern and Central AZ starting early in the morning, with the highest rain rates and best coverage of showers and storms likely during the afternoon into the early evening. Not all areas will see heavy rain, and there remains uncertainty in rainfall totals, but isolated/embedded thunderstorm activity will result in locally heavy rainfall with rates upwards of 1-2" per hour leading to an enhanced potential for flash flooding.

Along with the elevated flash flood potential on Friday, some thunderstorms may be capable of producing locally strong to severe wind gusts and large hail if they become organized. The potential for these isolated strong to severe thunderstorms will depend on whether we have enough instability during the afternoon/early evening.

A longer duration and fairly widespread rain event is shaping up for Saturday night through Sunday, with moderate to even briefly heavy rain rates possible at times. Although the thunderstorm potential will be low, there could be some embedded convection and lightning during this event. Rainfall will be most persistent over southwest-facing slopes and higher terrain areas, which could receive upwards of 2"-4"+ over 24-36 hours. Gradual rises in area washes, creeks, streams, and rivers can be expected at a minimum.