Weather
Arizona Weather Alert Today: 70 MPH Winds, Tornado Risk Oct 10-11
PHOENIX, AZ – Residents across parts of Arizona face an increasing threat of severe thunderstorms, damaging wind gusts and flash flooding Saturday, Oct. 10, as a developing storm system brings potenti
By Dylan Reeves · 2026-10-10T14:02:19.390Z
PHOENIX, AZ – Residents across parts of Arizona face an increasing threat of severe thunderstorms, damaging wind gusts and flash flooding Saturday, Oct. 10, as a developing storm system brings potentially hazardous weather through Sunday afternoon.
According to the National Weather Service in Phoenix, scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop Saturday afternoon and continue intermittently overnight into Sunday, Oct. 11.
Forecasters have identified a Level 1 out of 5 severe weather risk across portions of south central and western Arizona, including areas near Phoenix, Yuma and surrounding desert communities.
The primary severe weather concern is damaging thunderstorm winds, with the strongest storms capable of producing gusts between 60 and 70 mph.
An isolated weak tornado is also possible, particularly during the evening and overnight hours. Forecasters describe the tornado threat as low.
Outside thunderstorms, gusty conditions could produce winds of 40 to 50 mph at times.
Heavy rainfall presents an additional concern, especially where thunderstorms repeatedly move across the same locations.
The Weather Service forecasts rainfall totals between 0.25 and 0.75 inches across lower desert areas, with 0.50 to 1.50 inches possible in higher terrain.
Some locations could receive considerably more rainfall, with higher end totals reaching 1 to 1.50 inches in lower deserts and 1.50 to 3 inches in elevated areas.
Flooding concerns extend into Sunday, with portions of western Arizona facing an elevated excessive rainfall risk.
Drivers should prepare for water covered roads, flooded low water crossings and potentially longer travel times. Normally dry washes and small creeks could fill rapidly during heavier downpours.
Residents should avoid driving through flooded roads and remain alert for changing weather conditions, particularly Saturday evening through Sunday morning.
Storm intensity and rainfall totals will vary by location, making continued monitoring of National Weather Service updates important throughout the weekend.