News Summary
Phoenix faced intense monsoon thunderstorms leading to significant travel disruptions and event cancellations. The Arizona State Fair was closed as a safety precaution, while some high school football games were still scheduled despite a critical match being canceled. The storms caused heavy rain, hail, and flooding, impacting local infrastructure and air travel. Emergency responders carried out water rescues, with the National Weather Service reporting rainfall totals exceeding typical monsoon season amounts. Residents are advised to take precautions as further storm chances are expected over the weekend.
Phoenix experienced severe monsoon thunderstorms on Friday, September 26, 2025, resulting in significant travel disruptions and event cancellations. Heavy rainfall, strong winds, and lightning affected various areas, leading to a range of responses from local authorities and organizations.
The storms prompted the closure of the Arizona State Fair for the day as a precaution against hazardous weather conditions. Free admission tickets will be provided for any day through October 26, allowing visitors access from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Despite the fair’s closure, dozens of high school football games scheduled for later in the day remained set to go ahead, although a key match between ALA West Foothills and Arcadia High School was canceled at approximately 3:30 p.m.
Arizona State University’s football team was also affected, with their game against Texas Christian University (TCU) set for broadcast at 6 p.m. The associated Sparky’s Tailgate event, however, was canceled due to the inclement weather. Throughout the day, the region saw an accumulation of severe weather including heavy rain, hail, and sporadic lightning strikes.
Rainfall totals varied widely across the Phoenix metropolitan area. As of 1:55 p.m., the National Weather Service reported 1.11 inches of rain at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, surpassing the total rainfall accumulated during the entire monsoon season, which was recorded at 2.02 inches with only a few days remaining before the season’s end on September 30. Areas like Fountain Hills experienced over 2 inches of rain, while parts of the East Valley saw less than a tenth of an inch.
Large hailstones, measuring between 1 and 1.5 inches, were also reported during the thunderstorms. The storms resulted in partial flooding on freeways and significant flight delays at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented ground stops at both Phoenix and Las Vegas airports due to safety concerns, further contributing to travel delays.
First responders conducted multiple water rescues throughout the day as flooding posed dangers to both motorists and pedestrians. Despite the flooding incidents, no major damages were reported as the storms hit the area. A flood watch was issued and remained in effect until 11 p.m., with further rain and storm chances anticipated over the weekend.
High temperatures in Phoenix were forecasted to remain below normal, stabilizing around 90 degrees during the weekend. Meteorologists attributed the unexpected severe weather to a strong low-pressure system off the Southern California coast, which led to the late-season rush of storms. As of midday, many areas experienced intense rainfall with over 1 inch processed in less than an hour, which raised concerns about quick flash flooding changing road conditions rapidly.
As the region braces for continued rainfall, community members are urged to take precautions to avoid dangerous road conditions and stay informed of weather updates. Emergency services are on alert, ready to respond to any incidents that may arise as a result of the ongoing severe weather.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
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 CLEVELAND WRITER
CLEVELAND STAFF WRITER The CLEVELAND STAFF WRITER represents the seasoned team at HERECleveland.com, your premier source for actionable local news and information in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, and beyond, delivering "news you can use" with in-depth coverage of product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news impacting the region—backed by years of expert reporting and robust community input, including local press releases and business updates, while providing top reporting on high-profile events like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions, Cleveland International Film Festival, and holiday parades, alongside key organizations such as the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Orchestra, and Great Lakes Science Center, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and healthcare like Sherwin-Williams and University Hospitals, and as part of the broader HERE network including HEREDayton.com, offering comprehensive, credible insights into Ohio's vibrant landscape. HERE Cleveland HERE Dayton
