El Nino should drive wet winter for Arizona

PHOENIX — The warming waters are fueling what is considered to be the third strongest El Nino recorded, according to the U.S. Climate Prediction Center.

Ken Waters with the National Weather Service said there was growing optimism that Arizona will receive a lot of rain and maybe even big snowfall.

“I would say we’re already there with El Nino,” Waters said.

“It will continue to strengthen as we move into the fall and winter months. Wintertime storms, when we get good rainfall (that is) really spread out and uniform? The best kind of rain for Arizona.”

Winter precipitation, in particular El Nino, not monsoon rain, is the main recharger of reservoirs for the Valley, Waters said.

2010’s El Nino is considered a moderate event despite unloading heavy rainfall in the Arizona desert and several feet of snow in the high country.

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