Phoenix Records Wettest October Ever as Surprising Storm Soaks the Valley
Another cool day today but MUCH less shower activity than yesterday. A system from the north brings drier air and strong winds tonight and Monday – mainly for southeast CA and western AZ. #azwx #cawx pic.twitter.com/ujlnopASBv
— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) October 14, 2018
UPDATED 8:20 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 14 — On Friday, the National Weather Service predicted a few tenths of an inch of rain for the Phoenix Metro Area over the weekend. By 6:52 p.m. Saturday, Sky Harbor Airport had recorded 2.19 inches, adding to Rosa’s rains earlier in the month to make this October the wettest ever for the city, at 5.32 inches so far. It’s also the 4th wettest month ever, period.
Meanwhile, more than 2 inches had fallen in several areas of the Valley, with 3-plus inches recorded at South Mountain and another gauge in Estrella Village. North Phoenix got notably, less — under an inch — but still significant amounts. [See local totals below.]
What happened? A storm system moving in from the Pacific and across California interacted with moisture left behind by the remnants of Hurricane Sergio, to create a system that was “a bit more dynamic as it came through,” than was expected, said Paul Iniguez, meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Phoenix.
Sergio’s disorganized remnants were long gone before Saturday’s heavy rains came. “What [Sergio] did do is help put some moisture in place,” Iniguez told North Phoenix News. Then a couple of “waves” in the atmosphere interacted to usher in the significant downpours.
North Phoenix Bubble?
Among the local rainfall totals for this storm, as of 8:20 a.m. Sunday:
- Tramonto: 0.83 inches
- Sonoran Foothills: 0.83 inches
- Norterra: 0.71 inches
- Anthem North: 0.67 inches
- Anthem West: 0.67 inches
- New River: 0.71 inches
- Desert Hills: 0.79 inches
At Sky Harbor, the total rain for the calendar year so far is 8.72 inches, or 2.55 inches above normal, the NWS said. Already last week, officials said the state’s long-term drought had eased notably.
Sunday’s forecast calls for isolated showers and thunderstorms in the morning, then partly sunny by afternoon with a high near 75.
Flooding Images
Several roads and freeways in the Valley flooded Saturday, with some closures. At about 1:30 p.m., ADOT reported “Multiple crashes at various locations along on Interstate 17,” noting at least six separate crashes between New River and Flagstaff. The crashes had been cleared by mid-afternoon Saturday.
7th Ave and Buckeye in Phoenix flooding. @azfamily pic.twitter.com/ixWDWXXBv4
— Stanley Roberts (@StanleyRoberts) October 13, 2018
Streets are closed due to flooding near 17th Ave & Grand along with some of the neighborhood streets of Culver & Willetta in the same area. Police are trying to block traffic but some drivers are continuing through the flooded streets. #Fox10phoenix pic.twitter.com/SB8PPmVaJT
— Robert Hernandez (@rhernandezfox10) October 13, 2018
Sunday Fog
After all of this rain across #Phoenix, parts of the West Valley are seeing fog this morning, including patchy dense fog at times. Please slow down on the Loop 101 and 10 and use your low beam headlights in these areas! #azwx pic.twitter.com/ftT01dZpw2
— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) October 14, 2018
Whoa! McGuireville is lost in the fog along I-17. Delay travel. Visibility is very low. #aztraffic #azwx pic.twitter.com/0Jup9tkJzE
— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) October 14, 2018
Watch for fog along highways. You can see it's misty along I-17 just south of Flagstaff. pic.twitter.com/svLgethveb
— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) October 14, 2018
This article first published Sunday, Oct. 13.