Monsoon storms bring minimal flooding across Arizona as rainy week settles in

The first day of a rainy week in Arizona ended with minimal flooding damages, although the National Weather Service says with rain forecasted throughout the week, damages due to flooding are still a possibility.

The Phoenix area received few reports of flooding on Monday through Tuesday morning, accumulating about 2.25 inches of rain, according to Marvin Percha with the weather service.

As of 11 a.m. Tuesday, Cotton Lane in Surprise was flooded between Peoria Avenue and Cactus Road due to rainfall runoff, according to a tweet from the City of Surprise. Percha said the weather service would be looking into that report.

In Tucson, there was not much “impactful” flooding either, according to Rob Howlett with the weather service in Tucson. However, he said with the moist weather, “the conditions are ripe for flooding” and a high amount of rainfall in a short period of time.

Much of Northern Arizona, including Flagstaff, appears to be the most at risk of significant flooding, although there was “nothing crazy” Monday into Tuesday morning and early afternoon, said Paige Swenson with the weather service in Flagstaff. She said the reports the office received were primarily around State Route 89, and some portions of the highway had to be narrowed to one lane.

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There was one swift water rescue in Gold Valley near Kingman at Shinarump and Agate roads. According to a Facebook post from the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team, deputies responded to a call and found a 42-year-old woman holding onto a sign in a running wash with water up to her waist. The deputies were able to walk the woman out of the wash safely after the water receded a bit.

“With more rain in the forecast this week, Search and Rescue wants to remind everyone to not … travel through flooded roadways. Turn Around – Don’t Drown!” the Sheriff’s Office said in the Facebook post.

This area is covered by the National Weather Service in Las Vegas, not in Flagstaff.

Swenson said throughout the week there is a good chance of more significant flooding across Northern Arizona. Flash flood warnings were issued mid-afternoon Monday and have extended through early Thursday morning as rainfalls continue, according to the weather service and Coconino County.

The rest of Arizona, save a sliver on its western edge including Yuma, is under a flash flood watch until 5 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Howlett said the weather service in Tucson is considering extending the watch further into Wednesday.

Republic reporter Lacey Latch contributed to this article.

Reach breaking news reporter Sam Burdette at sburdette@gannett.com or on Twitter @SuperSafetySam

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Fortunate start to rainy week with minimal flooding in Arizona