Monsoon brings flood risk and much-needed drought relief as it shifts across Southwest, Rockies
Despite the flood threat, the monsoon will bring much-needed rain to the Denver metro area, the Front Range and the Rockies, which are experiencing areas of extreme and exceptional drought following a very dry winter.
Monsoon shifts north across Southwest, Rockies, bringing flood risk and much-needed drought relief
Monsoon thunderstorms will shift into northern Arizona and Grand Canyon National Park, as well as northern New Mexico on Wednesday as a flash flood threat is drawn farther north into Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska through the rest of the week. Despite potential flooding, this could bring beneficial rain to Colorado in particular, where much of the state is dealing with extreme and exceptional drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
PHOENIX — Monsoon thunderstorms will shift into northern Arizona and Grand Canyon National Park, as well as western and northern New Mexico on Wednesday as a flash flood threat is drawn farther north into Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska through the rest of the week.
Despite potential flooding, this could bring beneficial rain to Colorado in particular, where much of the state is dealing with extreme and exceptional drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
WHAT IS MONSOON SEASON IN THE SOUTHWEST?
![Monsoon thunderstorm over Litchfield Park, Arizona, on Aug. 11, 2026.]()
Image 1 of 3Monsoon thunderstorm over Litchfield Park, Arizona, on Aug. 11, 2026. (@trentonhooker/ X)
![Haboob near Scottsdale, Arizona, on Aug. 6, 2026.]()
Image 2 of 3Haboob near Scottsdale, Arizona, on Aug. 6, 2026. (Sean Voysey)
![Haboob near Scottsdale, Arizona, on Aug. 3, 2026.]()
Image 3 of 3Haboob near Scottsdale, Arizona, on Aug. 3, 2026. (Sean Voysey)
Storms brought lightning and heavy rain to central and southern Arizona on Monday and Tuesday. The National Weather Service (NWS) received reports of flash flooding on roads around Tombstone.
FOX Weather Exclusive Storm Tracker Mark Sudduth spotted water over part of State Road 86 around Sells Monday.
Monsoon thunderstorms produced several dust storms — also known as haboobs — near the Phoenix metro area last week.
Road flooding in Sells, Arizona, on Aug. 10, 2026.
(Mark Sudduth / FOX Weather)
Thunderstorms are expected to intensify through the day Wednesday. A Flood Watch and a Level 2 out of 4 flash flood risk is in effect through the evening for central and northern Arizona, including Prescott and Flagstaff, as well as western New Mexico, including Gallup and Reserve.
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NOAA's Weather Prediction Center (WPC) has issued a broader Level 1 flood risk for southeastern California, Nevada, Utah and Colorado.
(FOX Weather)
FOX Weather Meteorologist Craig Hererra advised hikers and others visiting national parks to get off the trails by 1 p.m., when thunderstorms could cause conditions to rapidly deteriorate.
By Thursday, monsoon storms will shift farther north through the week as a dip in the jet stream develops across the West and Great Basin.
Heavy rain is expected to saturate the area near the intersection of the Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska borders, where the WPC has issued a Level 2 flood threat Thursday. The Denver metro is included in this flood threat.
(FOX Weather)
Despite the flood threat, the monsoon will bring much-needed rain to the Denver metro area, the Front Range and the Rockies, which are experiencing areas of extreme and exceptional drought following a very dry winter.
According to the FOX Forecast Center, Denver and Salt Lake City are more than 4 inches below average in precipitation year-to-date.