Heavy Rain Totals In North Phoenix

By Andrew Bernier
Published: Tuesday, August 19, 2014 - 5:19pm
Updated: Tuesday, August 19, 2014 - 5:20pm
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(Photo by Andrew Bernier - KJZZ)
A rainstorm over Camelback Mountain in central Phoenix.
(Photo by Stina Sieg - KJZZ)
Flood waters near 35th Avenue and Skunk Creek.

Rain totals were widespread Tuesday with varied amounts across the Valley, sprinkling some areas and flooding others. Areas in far northern Maricopa County experienced precipitation in the past 24 hours that surpassed more than half of the 8-inch average rainfall for the year.

Some areas of Central Phoenix received more than 2 inches while most of the Valley received between half to one inch of rain. Meteorologist Gary Woodall with the National Weather Service highlights some of Tuesday’s extremes.

“Some locations up around Lake Pleasant, up around New River, Black Canyon City, extreme northern Maricopa County probably saw in excess of 4 to 5 inches,” Woodall said.    

The rains were brought from a surge of moisture flowing north from Mexico. When soil and washes accustomed to little rain gets inundated with high volumes of water, it has limited ability to absorb the water, causing rapid flooding and potential rock slides.

For comparison, there was less than two inches of rainfall total for all of last summer in the Valley.