September 27, 2025

Severe Monsoon Thunderstorms Disrupt Phoenix Events

News Summary

Severe monsoon thunderstorms caused significant disruptions in Phoenix, leading to the cancellation of the Arizona State Fair and a high school football game. Heavy rains resulted in partial flooding on freeways and flight delays at the airport. A flood watch is in effect as residents are urged to exercise caution amidst the potentially hazardous conditions. Despite the rain’s inconvenience, there were no major damages reported, although first responders were busy with water rescues. The severe weather is attributed to a strong low-pressure system off the Southern California coast.

Phoenix — Severe monsoon thunderstorms disrupted travel and led to event cancellations in the Phoenix area on Friday, September 26, 2025. The Arizona State Fair, which had been celebrating its annual festivities, was forced to close for the day due to heavy rains. In an effort to accommodate visitors who had planned to attend, free admission tickets will be available 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. However, dozens of other high school football games scheduled for the evening at 7 p.m. proceeded as planned. Meanwhile, Arizona State University’s football team was set to take on TCU in a televised match at 6 p.m., though the popular Sparky’s Tailgate event was canceled due to the adverse weather conditions.

The storms, which began early in the morning, brought heavy rain, large hail, and lightning to the Valley. The National Weather Service reported a total of 1.11 inches of rain at Sky Harbor International Airport by 1:55 p.m., a sum that exceeded the region’s total rain accumulation for the entire monsoon season, which stands at 2.02 inches with only a few days left before the season concludes on September 30. Rainfall totals varied widely across the metro area; Fountain Hills experienced over 2 inches of rainfall, while some areas in the East Valley received less than a tenth of an inch.

As the weather worsened, freeways in Phoenix experienced partial flooding, and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport faced significant flight delays. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued ground stops at both Phoenix and Las Vegas airports, compounding travel disruptions for passengers. By midday, many regions in Phoenix reported more than 1 inch of rain falling in less than an hour, leading to dangerous road conditions.

While the rain caused inconvenience, it did not result in any major damages. However, first responders were engaged in multiple water rescues throughout the day as they responded to flooding incidents. The storms were part of a late-season rush driven by a strong low-pressure system off the Southern California coast, which is typical for this period of the year.

Meteorologists further warned about the possibility of flash flooding, urging the public to exercise caution during the storms. A flood watch remained in effect in the Phoenix area until 11 p.m. on Friday, with indications of continued rain and storm chances persisting over the weekend. High temperatures were projected to remain below normal, around 90 degrees, as the storms continued to influence the weather patterns into the evening.

As residents braced for continuous rainfall, the focus remained on safety amid the potentially hazardous conditions associated with the severe storms. With more rain anticipated overnight, the emphasis was placed on avoiding dangerous road conditions and being prepared for rapidly evolving weather scenarios.