(Image source from: Arizona affected by worst rains in 75 years})
Vigorous showers swamped Arizona on Monday, flooding roadways, wrecking all kinds of havoc in the desert and registering as the wettest day in Phoenix's history to date.
The heavy deluge has prompted the governor of Arizona Jan Brewer to declare state emergency as floodwaters killed one, turned freeways of Phoenix into lakes and deep running canals and forcing dozens of schools, offices and House of Representatives to remain shut.
According to the National Weather Service, Phoenix registered a record rainfall of 3 inches in a single day, surpassing its old record pf 2.91 inches in 1933.
On Monday alone, Phoenix received as much rainfall as it normally gets during the three months of monsoon season alone.
Much of Arizona is under flash flood threat.
Arizona Department of Transportation officials has urged residents to delay their commute. Governor Brewer has ordered nonessential state employees to stay at home.
“Every low spot on a road is a potential problem. Be safe, please,” the Arizona Department of Transportation tweeted Monday morning.
Also, Brewer sent a disaster declaration request early Monday to the U.S. Small Business Administration, asking the federal agency to assist residents and businesses in Maricopa County in their recovery from last month’s flash floods, which affected more than 350 homes.
Incidentally, the region is battling the biggest flood in 44 years.
The rain was triggered by the remnants of eastern Pacific Hurricane Norbert. These tropical-type storms occur only once every five to 10 years in Arizona and results in extended, widespread rains. Monsoon storms, in comparison, are shorter and less torrential.
"This is pretty historic, what we're seeing," said Randy Cerveny, a weather expert and professor of geological sciences at Arizona State University.
"This is definitely one of the worst storms I've seen'' in the valley, California Highway Patrol spokesman Mike Radfordtold The Desert Sun.
Parts of five western states -- California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Colorado -- are under flood watches or warnings as of late afternoon.
AW: Suchorita Choudhury
