The Latest: Arizona floods swamp roads, bring water rescues

Flash flooding snarled rush hour traffic in Phoenix, while the heavy monsoon rains also inundated roadways in the Tucson area and prompted the evacuation of two high schools as a precaution.

People in at least a half-dozen vehicles stranded by running water along a flooded road on Tucson's southeastern outskirts were given rides to safety on fire trucks.

Corona de Tucson Fire Department Capt. Todd Cupell says emergency personnel from several agencies led dozens of other vehicles out of flooded areas along a nine-mile stretch of Houghton Road south of Interstate 10 Tuesday monring.

According to Cupell, the road wasn't barricaded before the motorists got into trouble when water up to 3 feet deep began to cover parts of the road.

Firefighters rescued a driver after her car got stuck in rushing water in a flooded low-lying area of a road on Tucson's outskirts.

Flash flood watches are in effect for Tucson's outskirts and much of southeastern and eastern Arizona due to monsoon rain and thunderstorms, and the National Weather Service says some areas near Tucson received about an inch of rain Tuesday morning.

Flash flood watches have been issued for much of eastern Arizona due to forecast rain and thunderstorms from monsoon activity.