Drizzle in the desert: More monsoon storms expected in Phoenix area this week

PHOENIX — Get used to the slightly cooler temperatures and clouds, Phoenix. More monsoon storms are expected this week.

“We’ll be looking at afternoon and evening storm chances in the 30, even 40, percent range, at least through the early part of the work week,” meteorologist Jessica Nolte with the National Weather Service said.

Hector Vasquez, another meteorologist with the weather service, said Phoenix will see a rarer period of what he calls “excessive” moisture in the air over the next several days.

“We’re in the excessive … monsoon moisture, which only happens a few times during the summer,” he said.

Vasquez said the monsoon storms will be scattered throughout the area.

“It’s going to be hit-and-miss,” he said. “Again, the main threat is going to be possible flooding [caused] by really heavy rain in a short time.”

While the ingredients for a storm are present, Phoenix will enjoy lower temperatures. Highs are expected to remain at 100 degrees or slightly below through Wednesday, while lows will be in the low 80s.

Nolte said that flooding could cause roadway concerns, particularly along Interstate 17 both in downtown Phoenix and just north of that area.

“There’s not a whole lot of area for that initial rainfall to run off, so that area can start to pond water rather quickly and start to cause some problems, even with a little bit of rainfall,” she said.

The monsoon weather is expected to move out of the Phoenix area by the weekend.

“Thursday and beyond, it looks like a westerly flow is coming off the Pacific and it should push most of the thunderstorm activity into eastern Arizona by the weekend,” Vasquez said.

After the storms move away, the temperatures will increase. The weather service is calling for a high of 105 degrees on Friday.

For Detour Dan’s tips on how to drive in monsoon rains, check out the video below.

KTAR’s Jim Cross and Julie Levin contributed to this report.

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