At 8:13 a.m. on Thursday, October 22, 2026, the National Weather Service in Phoenix issued a Flood Advisory for parts of Maricopa County. It named Scottsdale, Downtown Scottsdale, Scottsdale Airport, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills and McDowell Mountain Park. The advisory said up to 1 inch of rain had already fallen, with up to 0.75 inches more expected before it expired at 11:15 a.m. Fox 10 reported the heaviest rain that morning sat over Loop 101 near OdySea and south of Taliesin West. Two days earlier, KTAR reported that the Tuesday night storm that hit Mesa also brought rain to north Scottsdale.
What this does and does not mean
A flood advisory is about water on the ground: low spots, washes and streets that drain poorly. It is not a report of roof damage. Most roofs shed an inch of rain without trouble.
What a long, steady soaking does is test the layers you cannot see. On a tile roof, the tile sheds most of the water, but the underlayment beneath it is what keeps the house dry. On a foam roof, the coating is the waterproof surface. If either one is worn, a morning like this is often when it first shows up inside.
In Scottsdale this was mainly a rain event. If you are also thinking about hail from the October 20 and 21 storms elsewhere in the Valley, our hail check guide covers that separately.
What to check in the next few days
- Ceilings and the tops of walls, especially below roof valleys, skylights and places where a lower roof meets a taller wall. Look for new stains, bubbled paint or soft drywall.
- Your attic, if you can get in safely. Look for damp insulation or dark spots on the underside of the roof deck. Use a flashlight and stay on the framing.
- From the ground, look for tiles that have slipped or cracked, and flashing that has lifted at walls or chimneys.
- Take dated photos of anything you find. Notes made now are more useful than memory later.
- Stay off a wet tile roof. Wet tile is slippery, and walking on it can break pieces that were fine.
If you find a stain
A stain shows where water ended up, not always where it got in. Water can run along underlayment or framing before it drips. That is why a leak under tile usually means lifting tiles to look at the underlayment and flashing, rather than patching the spot right above the stain.
If you think you may file a claim, read our notes on roof insurance claims before any permanent repair, and ask your insurer what they need from you. Coverage depends on your policy.
Curious how much rain fell near you? The City of Scottsdale’s wash flow and rainfall page links to Flood Control District of Maricopa County gauges inside the city.
Get a second set of eyes
If you noticed something after this week’s rain, Apex can take a look and explain what we find. Request a free roof inspection or call (480) 808-ROOF (7663). You can also read about our Scottsdale roofing services.
Sources: NWS Phoenix Flood Advisory, October 22, 2026 (text via GovOneStop); National Weather Service Phoenix; Fox 10 Phoenix, October 22, 2026; AZFamily, October 22, 2026; KTAR, October 21, 2026; City of Scottsdale, Wash Flow and Rainfall Information.