Is the monsoon ready to cut loose in Phoenix? Rain, wind, flooding possible
After a few false starts, Arizona’s monsoon could finally bring some of the most dramatic weather Phoenix has seen this season, with high storm chances and strong winds, blowing dust and flash flooding possible from Aug. 25 and continuing into the week.
“We’ll see threats ranging from just about everything, with strong winds and even some localized heavy rain,” said Tom Frieders, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Phoenix.
Storm chances climb to 40 and as high as 70% across the region, with the highest risk in the afternoon on Aug. 25. Southern Arizona will see the first round of storms before activity spreads north.
Gusts of 35 mph or stronger were likely, with areas of dense blowing dust possible. The weather service issued a flood watch for southern Arizona and southeast California, with a blowing dust advisory between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. for most of southern Arizona. Visibility could drop below a mile along I-10 and I-8.
Locally heavy rainfall could dump 1 to 2 inches in some spots.
“Everything is setting up just right,” Frieders said. “We’re getting a moist flow out of the south, bringing abundant moisture across the area.”
Storm chances remain on Aug. 26 at 30 to 50%, though coverage won’t be as widespread.
But Frieders said a shift to a westerly flow later this week will bring drier air and clear out thunderstorm chances after Aug. 27.
Monsoonal moisture could bring temperatures down, hovering in the low 100s or even high 90s through the week.
Flood safety tips
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Never drive into flooded roadways
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Avoid low-lying washes and underpasses
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Keep updated on alerts from the National Weather Service
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Watch for rapid rises in creeks, streams and normally dry washes
Dust storm safety tips
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If you encounter a dust storm on the road, pull off as far as possible
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Turn off the lights and keep your foot off the brake
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Remain in your vehicle with your seatbelt fastened
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Wait until the storm passes before continuing travel
Hayleigh Evans writes about extreme weather and related topics for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Email her with story tips at hayleigh.evans@arizonarepublic.com.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Monsoon storms could bring rain, wind, floods to Phoenix
