Rare June Rainfall Expected to Bring Relief to Southwest US Drought Areas

A rare storm system is expected to bring much-needed rainfall to drought-stricken areas of the Southwest United States, including southeastern California, southern Arizona, and southern New Mexico. According to weather records, measurable rainfall in the first week of June has only occurred 21 times since 1896, with the last occurrence being in 2017. The storm system, which is uncommonly wet for this time of year, is expected to bring a chance for thunderstorms and brief heavy downpours to the region, especially on Sunday and Monday.

Key Takeaways:

• The storm system is expected to bring a 75% chance of rain to the Phoenix area on Sunday afternoon or evening, with rainfall chances continuing into Monday.
• The National Weather Service's official gauge for the Phoenix area has recorded measurable rainfall in the first week of June on 21 occasions since 1896.
• The most significant rainfall is expected in southern Arizona, southwest New Mexico, and southeast California, with a marginal risk (level 1 out of 4) for excessive rainfall that could lead to flash flooding on Sunday.
• The storm system is a rare occurrence in the Southwest during late spring, with rain typically more common during the monsoon season that starts June 15 and lasts into September.
• Mark O'Malley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Phoenix, noted that "normal rainfall is zero" for the first week in June, highlighting the unusual nature of the upcoming storm system.
• Peter Mullinax, a meteorologist with the Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center, stated that there's a strong southerly wind component that's escorting the tropical moisture northward into the Southwest.

Statistics:

• Measurable rainfall in the first week of June has occurred 21 times since 1896.
• The National Weather Service's official gauge for Phoenix has recorded zero rainfall on average for the first week of June.
• The storm system has a 75% chance of rain on Sunday afternoon or evening.
• A thunderstorm or two could bring half an inch of rain, or the downpour could occur 10 miles west of the airport, resulting in little to no rain.
• The Weather Prediction Center has put southern Arizona, southwest New Mexico, and southeast California under a marginal risk (level 1 out of 4) for excessive rainfall that could lead to flash flooding on Sunday.

Sources:

• Mark O'Malley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Phoenix
• Peter Mullinax, a meteorologist with the Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center
• The National Weather Service's official gauge for the Phoenix area
• The Weather Prediction Center
• "Rare June Rainfall Expected to Bring Relief to Southwest US Drought Areas" (The New York Times, no date provided)