PHOENIX — After 110 days without measurable rainfall at Phoenix Sky Harbor, the 15th longest streak on record, we finally got some rain!
The dry streak ended late Wednesday night when we measured 0.01 inches of rain at Sky Harbor. In total, Sky Harbor received 0.45 inches of rain since Wednesday night. Some parts of the Valley saw as much as 0.75 inches of rain.
Scattered showers are still possible Thursday afternoon into the evening.
FULL FORECAST: Changes coming, with rain chances for Valley
We'll also see another slight chance of showers on Friday as another quick disturbance moves in from the north.
The snow level up north will drop to around 6,500 to 7,000 feet and we could pick up around one to two inches of snow along the Mogollon Rim and three to six inches on the highest peaks of the White Mountains.
Then, we'll dry out again across Arizona this weekend.
While this week's rain has finally put an end to our dry streak, it won't be enough to end our worsening drought.
One hundred percent of Arizona is in a drought right now, and 77% of the state (including the Phoenix area) is in Exceptional Drought -- the worst drought category.
The long-term outlook over the next three months shows a good chance of drier and warmer than normal conditions across Arizona with La Nina in effect.
NOAA's Climate Prediction Center says La Nina is likely to continue through the Spring of 2021.
So, although we may see a few storm systems like this one from time to time, we expect conditions here in Arizona will average out to be warmer and drier than normal through at least the first half of next year. That means our drought will likely get worse in the next few months.
