The following events were reported: Flash Flood, Heavy Rain. These occurred near station USW00023183, approximately 28.6918 km away, between 2012-09-07 09:00:00 and 2012-09-07 18:00:00.Thankfully, no injuries or fatalities were reported. The events caused property damage valued at 550000.0 and crop damage of 0.0. Episode Narrative: Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms developed across the south central Arizona deserts, including the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, during the morning hours on September 7th. Some of the thunderstorms produced excessive rainfall, with peak rain rates in excess of 2 inches per hour. The rain led to both urban flooding and flash flooding over portions of the greater Phoenix area. Washes quickly started to flow heavily, and water ponded across roadways and parking lots, stranding motorists. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms developed across the south central Arizona deserts, including the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, during the morning hours on September 7th. Event Narrative: Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms developed across the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, including the community of Mesa, during the morning hours on September 7th. Peak rainfall rates at the height of the storm were in excess of 2 inches per hour, based on radar estimates and rain gage reports. The excessive rain led to an Urban and Small Stream Advisory at 934 am, followed shortly afterward by a Flash Flood Warning which included the community of Mesa. The warning was in effect until 1130 am. According to a on-line article on ABC15.com, the Mi Casa Rehabilitation Center - a retirement community - was filled with water. The center was built around a canal, so the excessive rain caused the area to flood, with flowing water several feet deep reported in some parts of the community. Fortunately, the buildings and surrounding homes were built on elevated platforms, so they were not threatened by the flash flooding. In addition, a canal near Broadway and Power roads overflowed, trapping a motorist in the flood waters. The car, as seen on a taped ABC 15 interview, was nearly submerged in the middle of the flooded canal. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms developed across the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, including the community of Mesa, during the morning hours on September 7th. Peak rainfall rates during the height of the storms, based on radar estimates and rain gage reports, exceeded 2 inches per hour. Heavy rain began by 830 am, and later prompted the issuance of a Flash Flood Warning at 953 am. The warning, which included Mesa, ran through 1130 am. According to an on-line article seen on ABC15.com, heavy rains sent a river of water washing across University Drive at Power road in Mesa. The river of flowing water was at least 2 feet deep in some places, and it stopped 4 drivers dead in their tracks. The water was up past the door on several vehicles, and caused some of them to float. Mesa and Rural Metro firefighters came to the rescue of the stranded drivers and pulled them all to safety. In a taped ABC 15 interview, neighbors who lived near Power Road and University for decades said that they were scared by the strength of the storms. Wendy Kruse said that it was the worst that she had ever seen. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms developed across portions of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, including the communities of Chandler and Gilbert, during the morning hours on September 7th. Peak rainfall rates as seen in radar estimates and rain gage reports were at least 2 inches per hour. At 10 am, a CoCoRaHS weather observer near the intersection of Cooper and Chandler Boulevard measured 1 inch of rain in the past 30 minutes, and heavy rain continued to fall. Another trained spotter 1 mile southeast of Gilbert also reported heavy rain at about 10 am; he also measured 1 inch of rain within a 35 minute period. The excessive rain led to widespread urban flooding, with significant ponding of water across streets and low lying areas. An Urban and Small Stream Flood Advisory was issued for the area beginning at 934 am and continuing until 1130 am. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms, some with locally heavy rain, developed across the greater Phoenix area during the morning hours on September 7th. Peak rainfall rates at the height of the storms exceeded 2 inches per hour, and the heavy rain led to widespread urban flooding of streets and washes, which affected the community of Scottsdale. According to an on-line article and a taped interview on ABC15.com, heavy morning rains caused flooding of the Indian Bend Wash Greenway near the intersection of Miller and Osborn roads. As the wash flooded the surrounding streets, some drivers were turned back by the deepening waters. One woman, Alex Luga, turned into a parking lot on an adjacent golf course and left for a short period of time. After she returned to her SUV, she found that it was stuck in water that was knee deep. Three drivers stopped to help pull her stranded SUV from the flooded parking lot. The flood waters receded quickly by early afternoon after the thunderstorms had ended. According to an article and video posted on ABC15.com, significant flash flooding occurred near the intersection of Recker and Main in Mesa. Several homes in a gated community suffered significant water damage as the street turned into a river, and water flowed into the homes. C.J. Zollar was moving into her home when the rising water flowed into the garage and first floor; most of her belongings were stored in the garage and were damaged or destroyed. Drywall on the first floor needed replacing. The water also damaged her car to the point that it would not start. Several feet from her home, a large block wall toppled over as deepening water ponded behind the wall, increasing pressure on it and causing its collapse. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms developed across portions of south central Arizona, including the community of Apache Junction, during the morning hours on Friday,  September 7th. Radar and rain gage reports indicated that peak rainfall rates during the height of the storms were at least 2 inches per hour. The heavy rains prompted the issuance of a Flash Flood Warning from 953 am until 1130 am which included the community of Apache Junction. According to an on-line article in the East Valley Tribune, the Apache Junction Unified School District is going to close part of the Superstition Mountain Elementary School for up to four weeks to repair flood damage from the morning's heavy rains. Several buildings were flooded, so the school will temporarily move some of it's classes and offices. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms developed across the greater Phoenix area during the morning hours on September 7th, and they continued into the afternoon hours over portions of the west valley. Peak rainfall rates at the height of the morning thunderstorms exceeded 2 inches per hour. The heavy rain caused some of the washes in the west valley to fill quickly and to run heavily during the afternoon hours. According to an on-line article and taped interview on ABC15.com, a Century Link employee became stuck on top of his vehicle in the Waterman wash near the intersection of 155th Avenue and Riggs Road in Goodyear. The man drove his truck into the muddy wash in the early afternoon and became stuck in the mud. Shortly afterwards, flash flooding occurred in the wash  and the vehicle became submerged nearly to its roof. He was trapped on the roof for 2 to 3 hours before being rescued. Goodyear firefighters used an inflatable raft to reach the man, and the rescue was considered to be very dangerous due to the swiftly flowing water. The man was not injured and he told paramedics that he did not need to go to a hospital.