Phoenix is forecast to start Sunday near 59 degrees under clear skies, with a high around 76. The sunny stretch should continue Monday, when temperatures may reach 80, before showers and thunderstorms return to the forecast Tuesday.
Two Sunny Days Before the Forecast Turns
Sunday is expected to stay sunny, with light east-northeast winds and no rain. Monday should also be sunny. Overnight lows are forecast near 55 Sunday night and 58 Monday night. The chance of rain is expected to rise after 5 a.m. Tuesday.
Tuesday’s forecast calls for mostly cloudy skies, showers and thunderstorms, an 80% chance of rain and a high near 73. Southwest winds could gust to 20 mph. Most areas are forecast to receive about a tenth to a quarter-inch of rain, with locally higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Wet roads and gusty winds could complicate travel; people with outdoor plans may want a backup. No watches, warnings or advisories are posted for Phoenix.
Rainfall and Flood Exposure Can Vary Locally
The forecast does not identify where rain may be heaviest or which places could face flooding. The City of Phoenix’s stormwater management plan explains one reason local runoff can differ: as urban areas gain buildings, roads and other impervious surfaces, the land’s ability to absorb stormwater naturally declines. That broad planning context does not show that Tuesday’s forecast will cause flooding in any particular location.
Long-term drainage planning also identifies flood-prone areas without predicting impacts from this storm. The Flood Control District of Maricopa County says its Adobe Dam/Desert Hills/Apache Wash plan identified viable project options for 22 flood-prone areas, including four in Phoenix. Those findings are not a map of Tuesday’s expected rainfall or a statement that those areas will be affected.
For changing local conditions, the Flood Control District’s ALERT Data Map provides rainfall, weather, stream and impoundment information, updated every five minutes. The district cautions that the data are provisional and unverified. For property-specific flood-hazard information, residents can search an address through FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center, the official public source for flood-hazard information and official flood maps.
Sunshine Returns Midweek
Wednesday is forecast to be sunny with a high near 73, followed by a high around 75 Thursday. A slight chance of showers returns Thursday night and Friday morning; Friday is expected to be partly sunny, with a high around 72.
