An unusual pre-monsoon storm brought significant rainfall to the northern Phoenix area on June 1 and 2, with some locations recording over an inch of rain. This event is particularly notable given the context of the past two summers, which have been among the driest on record in the region.
Rain gauges around Loop 303 and El Mirage Road measured impressive totals, with one recording over 2.3 inches of precipitation within a 24-hour period. The New River area saw several gauges report between 1.65 and 1.8 inches, while the Vistancia area and higher elevations near Bumble Bee logged nearly 1.8 and over 1.5 inches, respectively. Other parts of north Scottsdale, Cave Creek, and Carefree registered between 1.4 to 1.8 inches. In contrast, southern Scottsdale and areas like downtown Phoenix, Sky Harbor Airport, and Tempe received far less, with totals around a quarter-inch to two-thirds of an inch.
Despite the substantial rainfall in many parts, the storm mostly bypassed the southeast Valley, leading to minimal accumulation in areas such as east Mesa and Gold Canyon, where measurements were as low as 0.04 to 0.08 inch. The downpour caused temporary road closures, including on the Loop 101 freeway west of 75th Avenue. The rain also brought with it mild early June temperatures and wind.
Looking ahead, the summer monsoon season, which typically spans from mid-June to September, may bring more moisture to the area as residents hope for a break from the preceding dry conditions. This shift is welcomed, as the previous year saw only three-quarters of an inch of rain over the entire monsoon season at Phoenix Sky Harbor, raising concerns about drought and water supply.
As the community anticipates the official start of the monsoon season on June 15, there is cautious optimism that this unusual storm could be a sign of a wetter summer ahead.