Climatologist: Expect wet end to Arizona monsoon

PHOENIX — Despite a slow start to the monsoon, a Valley climatologist expects precipitation to ramp up over the next few months.

Climatologist Nancy Selover with Arizona State University said she expects to see a wetter than normal finish to the monsoon this year.

“Basically August, September (and) October are supposedly going to be a little wetter than normal, which would be really welcomed,” she said.

That extra precipitation is much needed in the Valley, where rainfall levels have been very low so far this year.

“We’re almost three inches below normal in our precipitation since Jan. 1,” she said. “Right now, Phoenix has only had 1.05 inches for the entire year and only .06 (inches) for the monsoon, so that’s pretty dry and we’re hoping we’ll get a lot more of that moisture in here.”

Selover said similar to last year, the monsoon has had a slow start and if precipitation can pick up in the next few months, the Valley could end the season at normal rainfall levels.

Cooler temperatures and increased moisture are expected to move into the Valley this weekend, following one of the hottest weeks this year in which Wednesday tied the July 23 high-temperature record and Thursday broke the July 24 record.