Storms help Phoenix area close August with cooler temperatures

PHOENIX – You don’t need to be a weather expert to realize August was cooler in metro Phoenix than a year ago.

The monsoon rains that drenched the Valley last month brought down the average temperature by more than six degrees and cut the number of days above 110 degrees by over half.

“We’ll take it,” National Weather Service Phoenix meteorologist Austin Jamison told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Wednesday, when the expected high is 94 degrees.

The Valley averaged 92.6 degrees in August, a whopper of a drop from 99.1 degrees for the same 31 days in 2020.

Also worth celebrating: The official gauge at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport recorded only 21 days of temperatures 110 degrees or hotter up to this point. Last year when August ended that number was a sobworthy 53 days.

“You can really see the difference when you contrast with last year, where we had very little storm activity. High pressure just sat on us,” Jamison said.

Monsoon season rainfall at the airport gauge is up to 3.44 inches, with August ringing in at 1.54 inches.

The Flood Control District of Maricopa County reported most of the area received some rain Tuesday.

We had widespread shower/t-storm overnight that brought rain to most of the County. Here are the 1-day totals #azwx See how much rain fell in your neighborhood here: https://t.co/yNJEM14Yye pic.twitter.com/NN8YFUr0nZ

— The Flood Control District of Maricopa County (@FCDFloodInfo) September 1, 2021

September may start out with rain, as well. There is a 40% chance of rain in the Valley on Wednesday and a flash flood watch remains in effect until 5 a.m. Thursday.

The rest of the week should be dry and warmer – temperatures likely will hit 103 degrees Saturday.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Jim Cross contributed to this report.

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