Officials this week continued to monitor storm systems passing through northern Arizona, about a month before the monsoons traditionally begin in the region.
The storm has so far mainly affected communities across Yavapai County, which stretches across central and eastern Mogollon Rim.
“So far, we’ve only seen kerb-to-kerb flooding in certain areas, primarily in northern Arizona,” said Lamont Bain, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Flagstaff, who said the flooding was not due to flooding. He said it was likely to last until Friday.
Rainfall at Flagstaff Pulliam Airport on Friday had already set a new one-day record by 1pm. weather station tweeted. The old record was 0.50 inches, set in 1957, but today’s new benchmark reaches 0.57 inches.
Bain said the chance of showers and thunderstorms will begin to subside toward the middle of the week.
Flagstaff city officials have held two meetings this month to prepare residents for the possibility of more flooding this summer after the area faced dozens of floods last year. . Officials stressed the importance of keeping properties prepared and paying attention to emergency alerts, but there’s no clear way to predict what might happen next.
Think ahead:After last year’s floods, Flagstaff begins preparing residents for monsoon
“I think we have to be a little cautious when comparing what we’re seeing now to whether it necessarily portends monsoons,” Bain said.
According to Bain, monsoons are inherently unpredictable, which is why meteorologists are often reluctant to make firm predictions this far in advance.
“Unfortunately, it’s one of those things that we just have to wait and see,” he said.
Current storm systems may not be associated with monsoons, but they can affect traditional wildfire seasons. Bain said it rained during what is typically the peak fire season in the area, so the extra moisture is likely to delay the start of the fire season.
“This will ensure that fire potential is kept at the lower end of the spectrum,” he says.
Bain also warned that this early morning rain could cause greening of surrounding areas. A delay in the traditional monsoon, which usually begins around the end of June, could also cause vegetation to dry out quickly, further increasing the fire hazard.
Here’s where to contact reporters: LLatch@gannett.com.
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