Flood warnings extended to Saturday and Sunday for Maricopa and Gila counties

The National Weather Service issued flood warnings on Sunday afternoon for Maricopa and Gila counties that have now been extended into Saturday and next Sunday.

The flood warning issued for Maricopa County was originally set to last until Thursday but has been extended to 2 p.m. on Saturday.

The warning is due to continued upstream releases from Granite Reef Dam. Flooding will impact unbridged crossings such as McKellips Road across the Salt River upstream of Tempe Town Lake, according to the weather service.

The flood warning issued for Gila County was originally set to last until Monday but has been extended to noon on Sunday, March 19.

The warning is due to continued rain and snowmelt. Flooding will impact Tonto Creek through Tonto Basin and unbridged crossings will not be safe to pass, according to the weather service. These include A Crossing, Bar X Crossing, Greenback Crossing and Store Crossing.

The weather service said most flood deaths occur in vehicles and recommend turning around if attempting to cross a flooded roadway.

These warnings may extend beyond the current expiration time.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Flood warnings extended for Maricopa and Gila counties