Phoenix residents might want to keep thier umbrellas handy. The National Weather Service predicts a 33-50% chance of above-normal precipitation for Phoenix, Tucson, and moast Arizona cities during the 2025 monsoon season. yuma is the exception.

This forecast follows an unusual pre-monsoon storm that recently drenched parts of the Phoenix area. The storm,which occured June 1-2,dropped over an inch of rain in some locations,offering a potential hinting at more moisture ahead after two exceptionally dry summers.

Uneven Rainfall across the Valley

The recent storm’s impact varied significantly across the Phoenix metropolitan area.

• Northern Phoenix: A rain gauge near Loop 303 and El Mirage Road recorded over 2.3 inches of rain in 24 hours. Several locations in the New River area saw between 1.65 and 1.8 inches.
• north Scottsdale, Cave Creek, Carefree: These areas generally received between 1.4 and 1.8 inches of rainfall.
• Downtown Phoenix, Sky Harbor, Tempe Town Lake: These lower-elevation areas recorded about a quarter-inch of rain.
• East and Southeast Valley: The storm largely bypassed these areas, with some parts of east Mesa and Gold Canyon receiving only 0.04 to 0.08 inch of rain.

The Flood Control District of Maricopa County meticulously tracks rainfall data, providing valuable information for residents and emergency management officials.

Impact and Aftermath

The heavy rainfall led to temporary road closures, including Loop 101 west of 75th Avenue.The storm also brought wind and unseasonably mild temperatures for early June.

Ancient Context

The recent rainfall is particularly noteworthy considering the past two summers have been exceptionally dry. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport recorded only three-quarters of an inch of rain during the monsoon season last year.