Heavy Rains, Flash Floods Predicted for Greater Phoenix

The National Weather Service in Phoenix has issued a flash flood watch for all of southern Arizona as well as central parts of the state during the daytime hours on Monday and into Tuesday. You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action if flash flood warnings are issued. “The heavy precipitation threat will remain over the region through Tuesday afternoon”.

The highest elevations southeast of Los Angeles could 1 to 2 inches of rain, but unfortunately this system does not seem likely to the widespread, blockbuster rainfall totals that were previously in the forecast for the area.

Tropical Storm Malia is 1,035 miles west northwest of Kailua-Kona. Precipitable water – a measure of how much air moisture is available to turn into rain – has climbed to 200 to 300 percent of normal for this time of year from Southern California to New Mexico.

The National Weather Service tweaked a flash flood watch Monday for the Phoenix area that was supposed to run to the following day. The majority of the rainfall is expected Monday afternoon and evening.

Wednesday’s high should be about 92 degrees but the mercury will again be flirting with the triple digits by the weekend. “Residents and motorists living or traveling in the flood prone areas should concern themselves with the flood potential”.

Higher than normal rain this fall and winter has been predicted by climatologists due to the El Niño that has been building since 2014, with some experts predicting a repeat of the 1997 phenomenon of heavy rains and flooding. There is a 10 percent chance of showers before 11 a.m., but the sun is expected to break through after that.