Tucson shatters July rain record; More storms expected to hit Phoenix
Jul 28, 2021, 11:20 AM | Updated: 1:04 pm
The Rillito River rolling along just west of Swan Road after a powerful storm with heavy rain landed over the Tucson area, Ariz., early Friday, July 23, 2021. (Rick Wiley/Arizona Daily Star via AP)
(Rick Wiley/Arizona Daily Star via AP)
PHOENIX — An abnormally stormy week helped push Tucson to its wettest July in history with more than 7 inches of rain falling in the southern Arizona city so far this month.
Tucson had recorded 7.08 inches of rain as of Wednesday, eclipsing the previous July record of 6.80 inches set in 2017, according to the National Weather Service.
The city got 1.29 inches of rain Tuesday to blast past the record. Since Friday, Tucson has seen just over 5 inches of rain.
As of 432 pm, the airport has recorded 1.19" today. This pushes the July total to 6.98" which is the wettest July on record. The old record was 6.80" from 2017. Monsoon total stands at 7.15". Still raining. #azwx
— NWS Tucson (@NWSTucson) July 27, 2021
Normal rainfall totals for Tucson in July are about 2 inches. The record could get a boost before the month ends Sunday with precipitation chances until then between 20% and 50%.
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Meanwhile in Phoenix, rain is back in the forecast starting Thursday due to a storm system moving in from Mexico.
A 30% chance of rain on Thursday jumps to 40% on Friday and 50% on Saturday before tapering off to 20% on Sunday and Monday.
Phoenix is in the midst of its wettest July since 2013, measuring 1.67 inches so far in the month.
Downpours in metro Phoenix over the weekend left behind about 1½ inches of rain at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport’s official gauge, but more than 4 inches soaked Scottsdale while other parts of the Valley recorded over 2 inches.
