Valley starts to see rain on what is expected to be an active weather day

Parts of metro Phoenix woke up to rain Friday morning and more weather disturbances are expected throughout the day with a flood watch in effect until Friday evening.

“Most of the rainfall is going to fall from areas [in] Phoenix and to the north and east of Phoenix,” Ted Whittock, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Phoenix, told KTAR News 92.3 FM. “Look for potentially multiple rounds of showers and some isolated to scattered thunderstorms for the remainder of the day.”

The far East Valley saw some activity early Friday morning as scattered showers and thunderstorms moved through. Meanwhile, areas west of Phoenix got rain while commuters were on their way to work.

In the West Valley, four adults were struck by lightning Friday morning at a school bus drop-off site outside El Mirage Elementary School.

Storms also caused a temporary ground stop to be issued at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and a departure delay that was listed as 60 minutes and rising.

Whittock noted the activity is expected to produce a half-inch to 1 inch or more of rain and could result in localized flash flooding, which is why a flood watch is in effect until 6 p.m.

He added there is a low chance of severe storms that could bring locally strong wind gusts and hail.

“Today, the heavier rain is going to be hit or miss and there might be some areas that don’t see any rain at all,” Whittock said.

What weather activity can people expect in metro Phoenix during Halloween weekend?

Whittock said the Valley is expected to be dry during the day on Halloween before chances of rain increase late Saturday evening. He advised all the little ghouls and goblins get their trick or treating done early. 

There is a flood watch from 11 p.m. Saturday to 5 a.m. Monday.

“The rainfall … that we’re expecting on Sunday is going to be much more widespread and the rain totals will be anywhere between an inch and 2 inches across the greater Phoenix area and potentially quite a bit more as you head into the high terrain to the north and east,” Whittock said.

The forecast calls for rain to clear Monday to start the week. High temperatures through the weekend are expected to be in the 70s.

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