Rare late-spring storm system could douse Valley this weekend

PHOENIX – A rare late-spring storm system is expected to bring widespread rainfall to the Valley over the weekend, potentially ending a dry spell of over seven weeks.

The metro Phoenix weather forecast calls for highs in the lower 100s with mostly sunny skies on Friday and Saturday followed by several days with below-normal temperatures and a good chance for measurable precipitation.

“For this time of the year, we basically almost never really get much of a weather system like this,” Alex Young of the National Weather Service (NWS) in Phoenix told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Friday morning. “So, I guess that’s kind of the big deal.”

Young said the Phoenix area has a 70%-80% chance for rain from Sunday to Monday morning, with projected totals ranging from 0.25 to 0.5 inches.

In addition, there’s a 15%-30% chance for scattered thunderstorms around the Valley on Sunday afternoon and evening.

“This is going to be a widespread rain event,” Young said.

After the system clears out, highs are expected to return to triple digits by the middle of next week.

Phoenix hasn’t experienced widespread rainfall in a while

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, which the NWS uses for the city’s official readings, hasn’t received measurable rainfall since April 18. Before then, March 15 was the last time it rained in Phoenix.

For a broader look at Arizona weather patterns, the NWS released its 2025 Arizona monsoon outlook this week. It previews the climatological season that runs annually from June 15 to Sept. 30.

The outlook said there’s a 33%-50% chance for above-normal monsoonal rainfall this year in most of the state after two consecutive years with below-normal seasonal precipitation.

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

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