Remnants of record storm impact morning commute in metro Phoenix

PHOENIX – The unseasonable weather system that dropped record rain across metro Phoenix on Sunday made an impact on Valley traffic Monday morning.

The westbound Loop 101 Agua Fria Freeway was temporarily closed due to standing water at 75th Avenue in Glendale, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. The closure was lifted by 7 a.m.

Earlier Monday morning, a weather-related injury collision involving four vehicles on westbound Loop 101 near 43rd Avenue prompted a temporary freeway closure at 27th Avenue. The Interstate 17 ramps to westbound Loop 101 were also closed after that crash, which occurred just after 3 a.m.

Much of the overnight rainfall had tapered off by 6 a.m., but it left roads across the region wet and slick, creating potentially dangerous driving conditions.

“Generally, it looks like we’re going to be pretty much drying out for the most part, although there’s some shots for maybe some showery activity, mostly in higher terrain areas, tomorrow and maybe into Wednesday,” Alex Young of the National Weather Service (NWS) in Phoenix told KTAR News 92.3 FM early Monday.

Wet weather is extremely rare in Valley for early June

The storm is particularly notable because June is historically the driest month of the year in the Valley.

A daily record of 0.24 inches of rain fell Sunday at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, which the NWS uses for the city’s official readings.

It was the first time in over 100 years that Phoenix received measurable rainfall on June 1. The previous record for the date was 0.02 inches in 1914.

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

Get the latest KTAR News 92.3 FM traffic alerts sent straight to your phone by texting “TRAFFIC” to 620620.

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