Monsoon storm activity expected to ramp up in metro Phoenix this week

PHOENIX – With monsoon storm activity expected to ramp up, the metro Phoenix forecast calls for rain chances and cooler temperatures this week.

The storm activity will probably stay south and east of the Valley on Tuesday, according to Sean Benedict of the National Weather Service in Phoenix. But the metro Phoenix forecast changes as the week progresses.

“There’s still a lot of uncertainty on exactly how things are going to play out. … But we’re mainly eyeing Wednesday and Thursday for the Phoenix area,” he told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Tuesday morning.

Benedict added that rain could fall in the Valley as soon as Wednesday morning.

“A lot of the activity may happen more toward the overnight hours, like early evening through the overnight hours, and maybe even some spotty stuff could happen in the morning, even starting tomorrow morning,” he said.

When was the last monsoon storm in Phoenix?

It’s only rained once in Phoenix since the monsoon season started on June 15, with 0.16 inches falling on July 2 at Sky Harbor International Airport, which the NWS uses for the city’s official readings. Phoenix’s last measurable rain before then fell on June 4.

Benedict noted that the monsoon storm activity will keep temperatures below normal in the coming days – and possibly in double digits for the first time since the high was 99 degrees on June 22.

“Coolest days are currently looking like Wednesday and Thursday, where (in the) Phoenix area we’re only expecting to barely creep over 100 degrees,” he said. “If we get locked-in clouds or if we have some good rain, there’s even a chance maybe we don’t get to 100.”

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Colton Krolak contributed to this report.

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