Flood watches covered metro Phoenix from Wednesday evening, October 21, into Thursday, October 22, 2026. Ahead of the storms, the Arizona Republic’s meteorologist forecast 0.25 to 1.25 inches of rain for metro Phoenix, with rain rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour possible. The National Weather Service in Phoenix kept the flood watch in place for the metro through Thursday afternoon. Azfamily reports cooler, drier weather from Friday through the weekend.
That dry stretch is a good window for one specific job: checking any flat or low-slope part of your roof for standing water. Wednesday’s winds also brought down trees and branches in parts of Phoenix, including near 31st Avenue and Bethany Home Road, and leaves and twigs are exactly what clogs a scupper or roof drain.
What standing water does and does not mean
Rain sitting on a flat roof right after a storm is normal. A roof that drains properly should be dry again within a couple of days. Water still sitting there after the weekend is worth a closer look. On its own, it does not mean your roof is leaking. It does mean water is spending more time on the roof than it should, and that is when small weak spots tend to show up.
See how much rain fell near you
Totals can vary a lot from one part of the Valley to the next. The Flood Control District of Maricopa County runs 378 automated rain gages and posts “Right Now” rainfall maps for the past 1, 6 or 24 hours on its Rainfall Data page. It is a quick way to see whether your neighborhood got a sprinkle or a soaking.
A short check for Saturday or Sunday
- Standing water. Look for puddles in low spots, near the middle of the roof or along a parapet wall.
- Scuppers and downspouts. Are they blocked by leaves, branches or debris? Is there new staining on the stucco below a scupper?
- Foam roofs. Look for blisters, soft spots, or places where the coating has worn and the bare foam is showing.
- Edges and joins. Check where a flat section meets a sloped roof, a wall, or an AC unit stand.
- Inside the house. Look for new ceiling stains, especially under a flat section or where a patio roof ties into the house.
Only go up if you are comfortable on a ladder, and stay off a wet roof. Clearing a scupper you can reach safely is fine. Anything beyond that is a job for a roofer.
If you find a stain or a drip
Take dated photos, catch the water, and see our page on what to do about a roof leak in Phoenix. If hail is also on your mind, our roof check after the October 20 and 21 storms covers that separately. For claim questions, read our page on roof insurance claims. Your insurer decides what your policy covers.
Ponding that comes back after every storm is usually a drainage or slope problem. Sometimes a repair or recoat handles it. Sometimes it does not. If it comes to replacement, our Arizona roof replacement cost guide explains what goes into the price.
Not sure what you are looking at? Apex Roofing Systems offers a free roof inspection in Phoenix, and we will show you photos of what we find. Request a free roof inspection or call (480) 808-ROOF (7663).
Sources: Arizona Republic via Yahoo News, rain and flood watch forecast for Phoenix (Oct. 20, 2026); National Weather Service Phoenix (Oct. 22, 2026); Azfamily, Severe weather, flooding threat continues across Arizona (Oct. 22, 2026); Azfamily, Storms knock out power, damage Phoenix-area apartments (Oct. 21, 2026); Flood Control District of Maricopa County, Rainfall Data.