PHOENIX — To rain, or not to rain: that is the question. Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the summers and droughts of an outrageous state, or to just pack up and move somewhere less broiling.
The start of monsoon is right around the corner. Although the summer rainy season does promise to break some of our bone-dry weather, the National Weather Service (NWS) doesn't think it will be anything to get excited for. At least it won't be as bad as last year's.
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: El Servicio Meteorológico Nacional da su pronóstico de los monzones 2024 en Arizona
Monsoon 2023 was the 17th driest monsoon statewide since 1895. With only 0.15 inches of rainfall recorded in Phoenix (an area that gets 2.43 inches of monsoon rain on average), it was brutal in the Valley. No one is going to forget our 31-day streak of high temperatures over 110 degrees Fahrenheit any time soon. Only a few spots across the entire state had above-normal rainfall, according to NWS.
"Luckily, much of the state saw above normal precipitation during the winter season, which gradually reduced drought levels statewide," the group said in their outlook video. Parts of the state are still sitting in severe drought conditions as we move into June, 2024, but nowhere is currently suffering from extreme drought.
The bigger issue is that the wet winter led to abundant plant growth across the state. That means more wildfires as we move into a "lean below normal" monsoon.
Unfortunately, NWS is predicting a tilt towards below-normal precipitation levels for most of Arizona.
Lower deserts, including the Phoenix Metro, are only expected to get about 10 days of measurable rainfall. 30 to 50 days of measurable rainfall are forecasted for the High Country.
While it's impossible to predict exactly how much rainfall we're going to get, hopefully it will be more than last year.
Monsoon begins June 15 and runs through Sept. 30. You can find the full video breaking down NWS data below:
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ARIZONA WEATHER
Drought, wildfires, heat and monsoon storms: Arizona has seen its fair share of severe weather. Learn everything you need to know about the Grand Canyon State's ever-changing forecasts here.
