Storm’s steady presence drops record rain total on Phoenix area

PHOENIX – The steady rain that fell on the Phoenix all Thursday broke a record for the date, the National Weather Service said.

The rain totaled 1.01 inches, surpassing the previous mark of 0.73 inches set in 1973.

Rain total for Thursday in Phoenix is now official: 1.01 inches. That's a new record for the day, breaking the old mark of 0.73 inches. Still raining and will continue to do so into the mid morning. #azwx

— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) February 22, 2019

Larry Hopper with the weather service’s Phoenix bureau said by Friday at 1:45 a.m. the total at Sky Harbor had jumped to 1.45 inches.

Widespread rain still occurring over the central deserts. 3 hour rain totals shown here; note the large area of 0.50 plus rains over the southeast valley. Areal Flood Warning remains in effect for that area thru 6 am. #azwx pic.twitter.com/03nd4yQVnH

— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) February 22, 2019

But that was runner-up when multiple gauges in the East Valley logged at least 2 inches, according to the Maricopa County Flood Control District.

There also was snow in parts of the Valley. Hopper said there was snow in north Scottsdale.

“We had an inch and a half of very slushy snow,” he said.

A small stream flood advisory was in place Friday morning from Apache Junction to Maricopa. That included Chandler and Gilbert.

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