Weekend storm dumps close to an inch at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport

PHOENIX —  Phoenix Sky Habor Airport recorded 0.73 of an inch or rain while other parts of the Phoenix metro area received over an inch of rain as the weekend storm begin to move out on Sunday.

According to the National Weather Service, rainfall totals as of 3 a.m. had parts of North Cave Creek recording 1.14 of an inch of rain, while Southeast Carefree had 1.09 of an inch and East Deer Valley had 1.05 of an inch.

Southwest Deer Valley recorded 0.65 of an inch while places near Wittman had just over a half an inch of rain while Pinnacle had 0.44 of an inch and East Mesa had 0.21 of an inch.

The long-anticipated storm system arrived Saturday morning when rain began to develop in the Valley shortly around 2 a.m. and continued throughout Saturday with the heavy portions hitting later in the afternoon and evening.

640P: Heaviest rain in NW Valley…best to avoid low water crossings. #azwx pic.twitter.com/S4zTwNR0fl

— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) February 19, 2017

Isolated showers persist over Phoenix late this morn. More steady & heavier rain expected for late this afternoon & evening. #azwx pic.twitter.com/JxQHJw8A0P

— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) February 18, 2017

Some heavier showers have developed near and north of the PHX area this morning. Heaviest rain still expected later today. #azwx pic.twitter.com/7MH2385JKm

— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) February 18, 2017

On Friday, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch that took effect at 11 a.m. on Saturday and runs through 7 a.m. on Sunday.

Stronger showers moving through the West Valley from #Goodyear to #SunCityWest…Flash Flood Watch still in effect #azwx pic.twitter.com/w47NvBHWY8

— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) February 19, 2017

The National Weather Service projects rainfall amounts anywhere from a half of inch of rain to in inch of rain over the lower deserts with an inch to an inch and a half over the higher terrain. The weather service also warned of localized flooding possible in the higher terrain as rainfall is expected to taper off by Sunday.

Cimon has great #floodsafety tips for this weekend or anytime #azwx #cawx pic.twitter.com/T25oSDvMGa

— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) February 17, 2017

Wet storm system to affect SE CA & AZ tonight thru early Sunday. Rainfall amounts of up an 1" possible over the deserts. #azwx #cawx pic.twitter.com/NNvNfZfZsT

— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) February 17, 2017

Prior to arriving in Arizona, the same storm system slammed Southern California on Friday causing sinkholes and leading two deaths.

The storm feeding on an atmospheric river of moisture stretching far out into the ocean was at its most fierce late Friday afternoon, dropping over 8 inches of rain in one area, and was expected to last until Saturday afternoon.

The region appeared to dodge any major disasters, but in the desert town of Victorville, several cars were washed down a flooded street, and one man was found dead in a submerged vehicle after others were rescued, San Bernardino County fire spokesman Eric Sherwin said.

And in the Sherman Oaks area of Los Angeles, a man was electrocuted when a tree falling in heavy rain downed power lines that hit his car.

Later in the same neighborhood, a sinkhole swallowed two cars, the second on live TV as viewers watched it teeter on the edge before plunging in. Firefighters rescued one person from the first car, and the driver got out of the second before it fell. No one was injured.

The weekend forecast pushed back the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Fan Fest, originally scheduled for Saturday at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale, to Monday.

With this storm, Phoenix should avoid its second straight rainless February. The Valley has averaged 0.27 inches of rain for the month.

The Valley also went without rain last March.

Phoenix hasn’t had measurable rain since Jan. 24, according to Tiggrweather.net.

KTAR’s Jim Cross and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow @KTAR923