Phoenix area likely to get more storms this week aided by Tropical Storm Nora

PHOENIX — It appears metro Phoenix will get more rain this week in what has already been a wet monsoon season as a tropical storm dramatically increases rain chances through Thursday.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for the Valley set to go into effect Tuesday through Wednesday night.

Meteorologist Larry Hopper told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Sunday that Tropical Storm Nora is going to continue trying to move up the Gulf of California over the next few days.

He said the forecast is placing the storm on the eastern side of the Gulf, right along the coast of Mexico, helping increase moisture into Arizona.

“That combined with a weather system moving in from the west should increase our thunderstorm chances dramatically by the middle of the week,” Hopper said.

We’re expecting another active week for t-storm and heavy rain potential.

The focus will be on moisture from Nora, with south-central AZ seeing heavy rain potential on Wed and Thu.

Mon and Tue bring a more typical Monsoon setup with t-storms possible both days.#azwx #cawx pic.twitter.com/ya3PlVDcS6

— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) August 29, 2021

A hot, mostly sunny day on Monday will give way to a 30% chance of thunderstorms in the evening, according to the National Weather Service.

Rain chances bump to 40% through a mostly cloudy day on Tuesday before increasing to 70% in the evening hours.

Metro Phoenix is then expected to have an 80% chance to get showers during the day Wednesday.

The chance for rain begins to decrease by Wednesday night as forecasters expect the wet weather to move out of the area on Thursday.

Storms will also drop temperatures back to below average, with an expected high of 99 degrees on Tuesday before a significant drop to 88 degrees on Wednesday.

The temperatures will begin climbing again on Thursday but still be under triple digits through the end of the week with expected highs of 92 degrees on Thursday and 96 degrees on Friday.

The metro Phoenix area is expected to receive an inch to 1.5 inches of rain through Thursday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Phoenix since the start of the monsoon season on June 15 has had 17 days of measurable rainfall, according to the National Weather Service, tied for 14th-best since record keeping began in 1896.

Drivers are advised not to cross a flooded wash, even if it doesn’t look deep because a few inches of running water could still pose a serious risk.

The Arizona Department of Transportation also warns people to not drive around road-closed signs as it is not only a risk but violators could be cited under state law.

People are advised to reduce speed and maintain a safe distance between vehicles during storms, avoid sudden braking that can cause sliding on wet pavement as well as reducing speed by taking your foot off the gas pedal and braking slowly.

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

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