News Summary
Phoenix was hit by severe monsoon thunderstorms that caused travel disruptions and event cancellations. Rainfall exceeded seasonal totals, leading to multiple flight delays and road hazards. The Arizona State Fair was closed, and emergency services responded to flooded areas. Despite the challenges, no major damage was reported. Meteorologists warned of potential flash flooding as more rain is expected over the weekend.
Phoenix
Severe monsoon thunderstorms disrupted travel and led to event cancellations in the Phoenix area on Friday, September 26, 2025, as heavy rainfall, hail, and lightning swept through the region. Conditions forced the closure of the Arizona State Fair, and significant flight delays were reported at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
The Arizona State Fair announced its closure for the day due to the heavy rain, but organizers extended an offer of free admission tickets for any day through October 26 from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Additionally, a high school football game between ALA West Foothills and Arcadia High School was called off around 3:30 p.m. While these cancellations were significant, dozens of other high school football games set for 7 p.m. were still scheduled to take place.
Arizona State University’s football team was slated to play TCU on national television at 6 p.m.; however, the preceding Sparky’s Tailgate event was canceled due to the thunderstorms. Throughout Friday, the storms began in the morning, leading to conditions that prompted multiple water rescues by first responders as flooded areas posed dangers to residents.
The National Weather Service reported that by 1:55 p.m., Sky Harbor had received 1.11 inches of rain, exceeding the region’s total rainfall for the entire monsoon season, which recorded 2.02 inches by the day’s end. Rainfall totals varied significantly across the metro area, with locations such as Fountain Hills receiving over 2 inches while parts of the East Valley saw less than a tenth of an inch. Large hail, between 1 to 1.5 inches, was also documented throughout the storms.
As these severe weather conditions unfolded, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented ground stops at both Phoenix and Las Vegas airports, contributing to widespread flight delays. Portions of the area’s freeways experienced partial flooding, complicating travel for many commuters. Rain was expected to persist into the evening, with forecasts indicating additional showers and storm activity over the upcoming weekend. Meteorologists issued warnings about the potential for flash flooding, advising the public to steer clear of flooded roadways and hazardous driving conditions.
The thunderstorms were related to a strong low-pressure system positioned off the coast of Southern California. As a result, high temperatures in Phoenix were projected to remain below normal, averaging around 90 degrees through the weekend.
Despite the extensive rainfall, there were no reports of major damage, although incidents of flooding were evident in various locations throughout the Valley. A flood watch was in effect until 11 p.m. on Friday, signaling that the threat of continued heavy rainfall was significant and could lead to further complications as the region transitions into the final days of the monsoon season, which wraps up on September 30.
Overall, the severe monsoon storms on Friday created unexpected challenges for residents of Phoenix, prompting event cancellations, flight delays, and emergency responses as the community faced the effects of an unseasonably active weather pattern.
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Additional Resources
- Arizona Central: Rain Chances Increase in Phoenix
- AZ Family: Friday Night Events Impacted by Monsoon Storm
- Fox Weather: Arizona and Nevada Weather Alert
- Fox 10 Phoenix: Arizona Weather Forecast
- KTAR: Thunderstorms and Flooding in Phoenix
- Wikipedia: Monsoon
- Google Search: Phoenix Weather
- Google Scholar: Phoenix Flooding September 2025
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Flash Flood
- Google News: Phoenix Monsoon Storm
Author: STAFF HERE BALTIMORE WRITER
BALTIMORE STAFF WRITER The BALTIMORE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBaltimore.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Baltimore, Baltimore County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Baltimore Book Festival, Preakness Stakes, and Artscape. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Baltimore Chamber of Commerce and Visit Baltimore, plus leading businesses in shipping and healthcare that power the local economy such as the Port of Baltimore and Johns Hopkins Medicine. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Maryland's dynamic landscape.
