Phoenix, Tucson to see rainy New Year’s weather, Flagstaff expected to get snow

PHOENIX — Arizona, we sure hope you weren’t planning to hold your New Year’s Eve festivities outside, because a round of wet weather is heading your way.

The National Weather Service said storms are expected to move through most of the state starting late Friday or early Saturday, bringing rainfall to most of the Valley.

A colder weather system is expected to move through on late Saturday or Sunday, bringing snow to the high country. The storms are expected to bring a quarter of an inch of rain to Phoenix and Tucson and a couple of inches of snow to Flagstaff.

Wet weather coming to the deserts this weekend! First good shot of rain tonight into Sat. Rainy on New Year's Eve likely too. #azwx #cawx pic.twitter.com/J4GzJ03sVd

— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) December 30, 2016

The forecast first calls for a 10 percent chance of storms in Phoenix on Friday morning, which will grow to 40 percent by Friday night.

Chances for rain will remain between 20 and 40 percent until Sunday morning, when the bad weather should begin to move out of the area.

The second part of the storm will bring cooler temperatures with it. Phoenix is expected to see a high of  just 61 degrees by Sunday. Overnight temperatures will sink into the low 40s.

The cooler temperatures will stick around. Highs should remain in the low 60s through Tuesday.

Highs will also drop in the high country. Flagstaff should see a Friday high near 50 degrees drop into the mid-30s by Sunday and into early next week.

The latest round of storms hit about one week after those that dumped rain in Phoenix and record snow in Flagstaff.

According to the National Weather Service of Phoenix, only six inches of rain has been recorded at Sky Harbor so far this year, making it the driest on record since 2012.

Related

Phoenix offers free sand bags at 9 parks ahead of monsoon storms10-year-old girl in critical condition after being pulled from pool in MesaInvestigation underway after man’s body pulled from canal in west PhoenixASU hockey players dispute review of Matthew Mayich collapse, seek coaching changesSoda chain Swig bids $5.4 million for 8 Arizona locations in Salad and Go bankruptcySAFE Alert canceled after 76-year-old Phoenix woman located