A month out, weather service not expecting above average Arizona monsoon
May 16, 2017, 4:42 AM
Lightning streaks across the night sky as a monsoon storm sweeps through the Phoenix metro area Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
PHOENIX — The National Weather Service said it has no indications the 2017 Arizona monsoon should be anything out of the ordinary.
“There’s nothing really going on in the atmosphere right now that would suggest an earlier monsoon or a better monsoon this summer but as with any summer thunderstorm events, it’s hit or miss,” meteorologist Mark O’Malley said Monday.
This week marks 30 days before the official calendar start — June 15 — of the monsoon season, though the Valley typically sees its first rain around the first week of July. The storms typically hit southeastern Arizona before making their way into the Valley.
Though the past four storm seasons have been very good for the state’s water supply, O’Malley said it can be difficult to predict which areas will be hardest hit by the storms.
“This year, some will do well and some will be disappointed,” he said.
Phoenix averages 2.71 inches of rain during the monsoon. Flagstaff usually sees about 8 inches of rain while Tucson gets about 6 inches.
The season ends Sept. 30.
