Phoenix ahead of normal monsoon rainfall, no rain expected until next week
Aug 12, 2016, 4:12 PM
PHOENIX — Rainfall totals for Phoenix’s monsoon are ahead of the average for this point in the season, but they won’t be climbing over the weekend.
The National Weather Service said no monsoon storms are expected until next week at the earliest.
“Across the desert, it’s going to be dry starting today (Friday) and lasting probably through at least next Tuesday,” Chris Kuhlman with the weather service said, adding that it’s hard to precisely predict when monsoon moisture will return to the state.
Though the weather will be drier, Kuhlman said Phoenicians should not expect the mercury to creep up to record-setting temperatures.
“Highs will be probably around 105, maybe 107 max, probably Sunday or Monday,” he said.
Kuhlman said Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has received about two inches of rainfall during the monsoon, which is about a half-inch above average for this point during the season.
Phoenix has been greatly helped out with rain totals in the recent weeks. Two separate periods of excessive moisture — one of which was fueled by Tropical Storm Javier — led to heavy rainfall in the area.
Last week, most of Phoenix drove to work through a downpour at some point. The city was hit hard by monsoon storms on Friday that left some freeways flooded.
That was followed by the Javier-fueled storms this week that triggered flood warnings.
KTAR’s Jim Cross contributed to this report.
