Rain, cooler temperatures expected in Phoenix area for last stretch of 2022

PHOENIX — After experiencing spring-like conditions over the Christmas holiday, metro Phoenix can expect to see its version of winter weather over the final stretch of 2022.

Tuesday will be mostly sunny and pleasant, but enjoy it while you can. A storm system is expected to bring below-normal temperatures and significant rainfall into the Valley overnight.

“We’ll see by Wednesday morning those showers really filling in across central Arizona. So, Phoenix, the Wednesday morning commute could be a little bit messy,” meteorologist Jared Heil said in a video for the National Weather Service in Phoenix.

The precipitation will be heaviest from 2 a.m. to noon Wednesday, NWS said.

Here are the latest expected rainfall amounts for tonight through Wednesday. Latest model guidance is pointing toward lower amounts than our previous forecasts. Timing of peak rainfall is mainly between 2 a.m. and noon Wednesday. #azwx #cawx pic.twitter.com/oKUrGBcijX

— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) December 27, 2022

The rain is expected to continue off and on all day Wednesday and possibly into Thursday.

“We’ll be really hard pressed to get rid of the cloud cover and the opportunities for a few showers right through Thursday, even though the heaviest accumulating rain is going to be mainly overnight Tuesday through the first half of Wednesday with this system,” Heil said.

VIDEO FORECAST: Clouds increase Tuesday, with rain in the picture for the middle of the week. Still some uncertainty as to how much rain will fall, so here is a break down of what we are currently seeing.#AZwx #CAwx pic.twitter.com/zAGyKPkfnE

— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) December 27, 2022

The storm is expected to drop half-an-inch to an inch of rain on most of the Valley, with an outside chance of 2-3 inches in some areas.

After a couple of dry days, another system with the potential for rain is expected to move through on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

The forecast calls for a high of 72 on Tuesday, followed by peaks about 10 degrees cooler the rest of the week.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Wednesday struggles to even get to 60 during the day,” Heil said. “It may be 60 at midnight and then the 50s much of the day itself.”

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