Rain wakes up metro Phoenix as storm season keeps kicking

Showers rinsed off metro Phoenix and lightning flashed across the skies early Wednesday, as thunderstorms cracked for a second day this week.

BY MARCIA HAMMOND

Jul 24, 2019, 7:20 AM Updated: 11:40 am

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(Twitter Photo/@ArizonaDOT)

PHOENIX – Showers rinsed off metro Phoenix and lightning flashed across the skies early Wednesday, as thunderstorms cracked for a second day this week.

The National Weather Service’s Phoenix office reported measurable rain fell at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport for the first time in the monsoon storm season, collecting 0.04 inches.

The bureau had said brief downpours and gusts of up to 35 mph were possible during commuter drive time.

4:55 a.m. MST: #Phoenix Sky Harbor finally registered measurable rainfall this monsoon season at 0.04" so far! This ties for the 10th latest first day of measurable rainfall for #Phoenix since 1896. Brief downpours up to 0.5" gusty winds possible with these storms. #azwx #Monsoon pic.twitter.com/hw3dlOJe2X

— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) July 24, 2019

Thunder cracked overnight in isolated storms across the Valley.

“There will be some spots that will get a brief, heavy downpour,” bureau meteorologist Austin Jamison told KTAR News 92.3 FM.

Another rainy morning… and loving it. 💙🌧🌫💦 #azwx #Monsoon #MonsoonSeason

— Heather Kindred (@HeatherKindred) July 24, 2019

Roads are flooding North of 35th & Bell and on, stay safe guys 💖 #azmonsoon #azweather it's finally here! 😍⛈️

— Kara Grinnell (@PocketFox3) July 24, 2019

#Monsoon2019 has arrived in the far north valley…just as my neighbors start to head off to work.

Rolling thunder, decent rainfall, not much wind. Fingers crossed that it passes and drains in the next 2 hours. #CarefreeHwy #AZWX pic.twitter.com/pVaQIxPpD1

— Kim C (@Cu_As) July 24, 2019

NOW: It's raining hard over the Valley. Slow down. #PHXtraffic pic.twitter.com/ZXqpkHkPmJ

— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) July 24, 2019

The storm system was expected to clear out of the Valley long before lunchtime.

6:40 am MST: Showers and thunderstorms will exit the valley from E-SE to N-NW over the next couple of hours. Brief heavy downpours up to 1" and gusty winds up to 35 mph will continue to be possible with these storms. Drive carefully on your commute! #azwx @#Monsoon pic.twitter.com/8xBQ6Vcjtd

— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) July 24, 2019

The season’s first storm Monday night, full of dust and wind, knocked out power and took down trees. More than 10,000 Salt River Project customers and 4,000 Arizona Public Service customers lost power.

Standing water on State Route 51 in north Phoenix caused accidents and closed all northbound lanes for a short time around 9:30 p.m.

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

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