News Summary
Phoenix faced severe monsoon thunderstorms leading to travel disruptions and event cancellations. Heavy rainfall, hail, and lightning caused significant issues, prompting the Arizona State Fair to close for the day. Despite some events proceeding, high school games and tailgate festivities were also affected. As rainfall totals surpassed seasonal averages, flooding on freeways and flight delays at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport heightened concerns. Officials urged caution as residents braced for continued storm activity throughout the weekend.
Phoenix experienced severe monsoon thunderstorms on Friday, September 26, 2025, leading to widespread travel disruptions and event cancellations. Heavy rain, hail, and lightning impacted the area, causing significant issues for residents and travelers alike.
The Arizona State Fair announced the closure for the day due to the adverse weather conditions. As part of a public gesture, the fair offered free admission tickets to visitors for any day through October 26, valid from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. In addition to the fair’s closure, a high school football game between ALA West Foothills and Arcadia High School was canceled around 3:30 p.m., although many games scheduled for 7 p.m. were still set to proceed as planned.
Later in the evening, the Arizona State University football team was scheduled to play Texas Christian University (TCU) during a nationally televised event at 6 p.m.; however, the popular Sparky’s Tailgate event was unfortunately canceled due to the storms.
The thunderstorms commenced in the morning, and by midday, the National Weather Service recorded 1.11 inches of rain at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport by 1:55 p.m., surpassing the total rainfall for the entire monsoon season, which now stands at 2.02 inches with only a few days left before the close of the season on September 30. Rainfall amounts varied widely across the metro area. While some regions, such as Fountain Hills, received over 2 inches, other parts of the East Valley reported less than a tenth of an inch.
In conjunction with heavy rainfall, large hail ranging from 1 to 1.5 inches was observed during the storms, prompting a flood watch that remained in effect until 11 p.m. on Friday. Additional rain and storm chances were anticipated throughout the weekend. Forecasts indicated that high temperatures in Phoenix would stay below normal, around 90 degrees, for the duration of the weekend.
Freeways in the region saw partial flooding, leading to traffic disruptions. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport faced significant flight delays, exacerbated by ground stops issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for both Phoenix and Las Vegas airports. By midday, many areas in the city reported over 1 inch of rain within the span of just one hour, leading to urgent advisories from meteorologists regarding the heightened risk of quickly evolving flash flooding.
Throughout the day, first responders undertook multiple water rescues in response to flooding incidents. Despite these challenges, no major damages were reported, which is considered fortunate given the intensity of the storm. Officials urged the public to stay alert and avoid dangerous road conditions that were likely to arise from the excessive rainfall.
The late-season thunderstorms were linked to a strong low-pressure system off the Southern California coast. This weather phenomenon was a component of the region’s monsoon system, which typically brings much-needed moisture to Arizona during the summer months, though this particular event resulted in swift and severe weather conditions.
As the weekend approaches, residents and visitors are advised to remain cautious and prepared for potential additional rain and storm activity, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of the monsoon season in the Phoenix area.
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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 INDIANAPOLIS WRITER
The INDIANAPOLIS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREIndianapolis.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Indianapolis, Marion 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 Indianapolis 500, Indy Jazz Fest, and the Indiana State Fair. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Indy Chamber and Visit Indy, plus leading businesses in motorsports and healthcare that power the local economy such as Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IU Health. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Indiana's dynamic landscape.
