Storms could hit Phoenix area once more before taking break for weekend

PHOENIX – The monsoon season could drop one storm onto metro Phoenix on Wednesday before it subsides for at least a few days, forecasters said.

A flash flood warning in Maricopa County was set to expire at 12:45 p.m. but a flash flood watch was in effect until 8 p.m., the National Weather Service said.

Flash Flood Warning including Gila County, AZ, Maricopa County, AZ, Pinal County, AZ until 12:45 PM MST pic.twitter.com/3FnJs085zp

— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) August 18, 2021

The chance of daytime rain in the Valley stretched from 20-60% on Wednesday, according to predictions and 30% in the evening.

But other than that, “We’re looking at a big pattern change taking place for the rest of the week,” Phoenix bureau meteorologist Mark O’Malley told KTAR News 92.3 FM.

“It’ll be very dry and by the weekend we’ll be back up over 100 degrees.”

After Wednesday’s expected gray skies, there is no rain in sight for the Valley at least through the middle of next week, O’Malley added.

Storms have unloaded 3.29 inches of rain at Sky Harbor Airport, nearly an inch over the average for the monsoon season, which runs from June 15 to Sept. 30.

“This monsoon has been unbelievable across the state, not just the Phoenix area,” O’Malley said.

Tucson has reached nearly 12 inches of rain – the record is 13.9 set in 1964 – and Flagstaff has received 8.65 inches, about an inch above its normal 7.68 inches.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Jim Cross contributed to this report.

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