It does rain in Scottsdale. Occasionally.
And in the summer, the rains can be really heavy, as much as an inch in an hour, or less.
The Indian Bend Wash is a wonderful recreational venue, running through central Scottsdale, starting at Scottsdale Road and McCormick Parkway, heading south all the way to the Salt River. When it’s dry, it’s miles of green grass and biking / walking paths, with underground passes through most all of the major Scottsdale intersections.
When it rains hard and fast, the Indian Bend Wash becomes a river that can last for days. One that moves faster than you think.
The City of Scottsdale is quick to put up barricades and while it’s clear that the roads are blocked, some drivers still feel invincible.
Arizona enacted a Stupid Motorist Law, to cover the cost of rescuing drivers that attempt to drive through barricaded, flooded roads.
In part:
A driver of a vehicle who drives the vehicle on a public street or highway that is temporarily covered by a rise in water level, including groundwater or overflow of water, and that is barricaded because of flooding is liable for the expenses of any emergency response that is required to remove from the public street or highway the driver or any passenger in the vehicle that becomes inoperable on the public street or highway or the vehicle that becomes inoperable on the public street or highway, or both.
Crazy, that we need a law to replace good, ol’ common sense, isn’t it?
So to help you our, here are two maps from the City of Scottsdale showing alternative routes when roads are flooded and impassable.
- North Scottsdale Map of Potential Problem Flooding Areas – Alternate routes for Pima Road may include Hayden Road and north-south residential streets.
- South Scottsdale Map of Potential Problem Flooding Areas – Alternate routes include Pima Road and Scottsdale Road.
More on Scottsdale’s monsoon season:
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