Last Updated on June 10, 2023

More showers are expected in Arizona desert cities due to winter storm, meteorologists warn. Earlier this week, Phoenix residents experienced heavy rain that changed to intermittent light showers by the middle of the day.

According to the National Weather Service, Arizona can expect scattered rain and snow across the state over the next few days, with another major storm expected to arrive on New Year’s Day. It is advised to be aware of and prepare for potential weather disruptions.

The two largest cities in Arizona, Phoenix and Tucson, do experience some rainfall throughout the year, but showers in December are relatively unusual.

Both are located in the Sonoran Desert and have a hot, dry climate, with the majority of its annual precipitation falling during the monsoon season, which runs from mid-June to late September.

During the rest of the year, Phoenix and Tucson generally experience dry, sunny weather, with temperatures ranging from the low 80s Fahrenheit (27-29 degrees Celsius) in the spring and fall to the high 90s Fahrenheit (36-37 degrees Celsius) during the summer months.

However, it is not uncommon for desert areas in Arizona to experience occasional showers or thunderstorms at other times of the year, especially in the winter months when the area can be impacted by storm systems moving through the region, as it is currently the case in the last days of 2022.

Phoenix and Tucson to experience Rainfall due to Winter Storm
Weather forecast for Arizona on New Year’s Day. Source: ABC15 Arizona.

Across the United States, the winter storm has cause at least 60 fatalities and several injuries over the holiday weekend, particurarly in Erie County, where the city of Buffalo has experienced hurricane-force winds and snow.

In the High Country of Northern Arizona, the storm has brought heavy snowfalls, with whiteout conditions and fog east of Payson, and parts of Bellemont receiving over a foot of snow. Arizona Snowbowl reported more than a foot of snow as well.


Read more: Phoenix’s Sonoran Desert

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