The freight train of El Nino storms continued through Thursday bringing rain totals to as much at two inches in Fountain Hills since rain started to fall early in the week.

Thursday morning was without a doubt the heaviest rain as the National Weather Service forecast the showers to continue overnight before tapering off during the day Friday.

Law enforcement and street crews were busy monitoring localized and wash flooding. Motorists are urged to avoid driving through flooded washes. MCSO Lt. John D’Amico told The Times he would recommend motorists avoid McDowell Mountain Road between Fountain Hills and Rio Verde until the rain lets up.

There are several large washes that flow out of McDowell Mountain Park and cross the road headed toward that Verde River drainage.

The county Flood Control District monitoring sites in western Fountain Hills in the McDowell Mountains have all received well over two inches of rain in the past 36 hours. The washes that flow through town are fed by the rains in the McDowells.