PHOENIX — Our monsoon forecast is staying active with more storms possible in the coming days.
Watch out for gusty winds, areas of heavy rain and dangerous lightning with any of the storms that move through.
Our highest chances for storms will be on Wednesday and Thursday as moisture from another tropical system gets caught up in our monsoon flow.
Tropical Storm Harold made landfall in south Texas on Tuesday and is now tracking west as it continues to weaken.
Winds will get breezy on Wednesday as the remnants of that storm move into Arizona, New Mexico and west Texas and chances for monsoon storms will increase, too.
By Friday, high pressure will move west and center up over Arizona cutting off our monsoon flow and increasing temperatures.
Until then, Valley highs will remain below 110 degrees. But, starting Saturday the 110s are back and sticking around into the beginning of next week.
Phoenix has now had 46 days this summer at 110 degrees or hotter. That's the second most ever recorded. The record is 53 days set in 2020 and we will definitely make a run at that record this year as high heat continues through the end of August.
We could also see more overnight lows in the 90s by early next week. We're now up to 29 days with lows in the 90s, breaking the record of 28 days set in 2020.
As temperatures climb and skies stay mostly sunny, our air quality will get worse, too.
Ozone High Pollution Watches are in effect Thursday, Friday and Saturday. These will likely get upgraded to Advisories as we get closer. Ozone pollution could reach unhealthy levels those days making it difficult to breathe if you have asthma or COPD. So, you may want to limit your time outside if you have any kind of respiratory condition.
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2023 Rainfall totals:
Sky Harbor Official Rainfall: 2.94" (-1.57" from average)
Valley Average (Phoenix Rainfall Index): 3.73"
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Daily rainfall reports from all across the Valley can be found here.
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PHOENIX IS GETTING DRIER - LOWER RAINFALL AVERAGES NOW
Average Monsoon Rainfall in Phoenix (1981-2010): 2.71" of rain
NEW Average Monsoon Rainfall in Phoenix (1991-2020): 2.43" of rain
Average Yearly Rainfall in Phoenix (1981-2010): 8:03" of rain
NEW Average Yearly Rainfall in Phoenix (1991-2020): 7.22" of rain
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