Storm rolls through Valley dropping significant rain

PHOENIX - An afternoon storm brought heavy rain to parts of the Valley Saturday.

The storm hit central Phoenix around 2 p.m. and the National Weather Service reports the Paradise Valley was quickly inundated with an inch of rain.

Near 44th Street and Thomas, roadways were flooded as drivers cautiously made their way through intersections and puddles several inches deep.

One mini-van going through the water ended up stalling.

"The roads are full of water and people are splashing everywhere, it is crazy," said one woman after she pulled over to stop at a gas station.

In Paradise Valley, officers shut down the road at McDonald and Tatum because of the overflooded wash.

Sky Harbor Airport spokeswoman Claire Stern said the FAA put in place a 30 minute ground stop for departing flights just before 2 p.m. as the storm passed through.

The National Weather Service says 1.33 inches of rain fell at the airport in less than an hour Saturday afternoon, beating the previous record for July 31 -- .93 inches in 1987.

There were multiple reports of street flooding, especially in the South Phoenix area, with cars reportedly getting stuck in flood waters at 16th Street and Baseline and homes flooded near 14th Street and Baseline Road.

There were no reports of injuries or damage from the storm.

Hours after the storm, parking lots still had a lot of standing water left over.

ABC15 Meteorologist Rich Dahlquist says the storm is moving from northern Mexico toward San Diego and we will continue to see heavy rain through the day.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for the metro Phoenix area, effective until midnight.