Storms develop in Phoenix area, wetting freeways for morning commute

Scattered showers and thunderstorms developed in and around Phoenix on Thursday morning, and more rain is possible later in the day.

“Rain could really be anywhere today from west of Phoenix through the high terrain east of Phoenix,” meteorologist Chris Kuhlman of the National Weather Service in Phoenix told KTAR News 92.3 FM.

Freeway cameras showed wet roadways in Buckeye, south of South Mountain and in the northeast Valley before 6:30 a.m.

“If you’re in the West Valley or even [the] downtown area, you can look for at least some sprinkles or probably even isolated moderate to heavy rain,” Kuhlman said.

The storms prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to issue a ground stop for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

The weather also knocked out power for more than 5,500 Arizona Public Service customers in the West Valley.

More storms are possible across central and southern Arizona throughout the day, with the best chances in the midafternoon and evening.

“It will probably have a break by mid- to late morning,” Kuhlman said. “And then we may have another round later on, which might be more focused … east of Phoenix or on the eastern parts of Phoenix.”

Will it rain again later this week and over the weekend?

Once Thursday’s storm activity clears, the Valley can expect at least a few days without storms.

“By the middle part of this evening, we might be mostly done,” Kuhlman said. “We’re going to have a lot of dry air that comes in and it’ll end our rain chances by tonight, and then we’ll be dry for Friday and Saturday.”

But there could be more precipitation before the monsoon season officially ends at the end of September.

“By Sunday, we’re going to have a lot of clouds move in, increased moisture and maybe rain chances again later Sunday and then Monday, possibly,” Kuhlman said.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Anna Olp contributed to this report.

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