PHOENIX — Get ready for rain, thunderstorms, blowing dust, and potential flash flooding beginning today.
A rare and unusual weather pattern is setting up that could bring historic early June rain to Arizona.
A storm system spinning off the coast of the Baja Peninsula is pulling up moisture from the remnants of what was Tropical Storm Alvin.
Track live radar here:
The bulk of the rain will begin to move into southern and southwestern Arizona after sunrise this morning. This will continue to move further north through the day.
Rain will begin to pick up in the Valley after 1 p.m. and migrate into the high country after 2 p.m. We expect that some strong storms will develop from this system, capable of producing damaging winds and possibly small hail. While this could occur in the Valley, the threat will be highest across southern Arizona through the morning into the afternoon, then push more so into southeastern Arizona and the White Mountains into Sunday night.
Heavy rain, especially in Southern Arizona, will be capable of producing flash flooding. A Flood Watch is in place on Sunday for Pima, Santa Cruz, and part of Pinal and Cochise Counties.
The Weather Prediction Center has placed the Valley and central parts of the state, shown in green, in an Marginal Risk (5% chance) for flash flooding. Southern parts of the state, shaded in yellow, are in a Slight Risk (15% chance) for flash flooding.
With any strong storms that do develop, they could create blowing dust, so remember to pull over, take your foot off the brake, turn off your lights, and wait until visibility improves.
Sunday and Monday will be an ABC15 Weather Action Day as a reminder to take action and be ready to adjust your outdoor plans. Rain, lightning, and gusty winds could all impact your day.
Some parts of the Valley could see a quarter to a half inch of rain. Roads may be slick, and visibility could be reduced at times.
This type of rain is extremely rare for early June! Phoenix has only recorded measurable rainfall on June 1st once, and that was only two-hundredths of an inch all the way back in 1914.
Another storm system may move in late Monday and Tuesday, keeping a slight chance of showers in the forecast, but the main event will be Sunday.
So stay weather-aware and check abc15.com and ABC15 Mobile for updates as we head into the weekend.
