Weak La Nina may lead to unpredictable Arizona winter weather
La Nina winters tend to bring warmer and drier weather to Arizona but this year’s impact may be harder to predict.
Arizona traded in a white Christmas for a wet Christmas this year, as rainfall swept across the Valley and reached up north to Flagstaff.
While parts of the country woke up to snow-covered streets, Arizona’s holiday weather created a different kind of winter wonderland.
The showers created an unusual backdrop for some residents, adding overcast skies and damp roads to the festive season.
From light sprinkles in Phoenix, to heavier rainfall in northern Arizona, here is a look at how much rain fell and what to expect heading into the weekend.
How much rain fell in Arizona yesterday?
Rain totals were modest across most of the Valley.
“There are a couple areas that saw up to 0.10 (inch) but those were few and far between. Most areas saw just a couple hundredths of an inch total,” said Mark O’Malley meteorologist for the Phoenix National Weather Service.
According to O’Malley, most of the rainfall concentrated in northeast Maricopa County, including areas in Fountain Hills and Apache Junction, areas that typically see more precipitation than the rest of the valley.
Northern Arizona saw slightly higher totals.
Flagstaff received about 0.2 inch and the Grand Canyon saw 0.1 inch, according to Jacob Lewandowski, meteorologist for the Flagstaff National Weather Service.
Some localized spots even approached 1 inch of rain, though most areas stayed around 0.1 inch of rain, said Lewandowski.
What weather can I expect in Phoenix this weekend?
There was still a chance slight chance for light showers on Friday, Dec. 26, mainly in foothill areas from Cave Creek to Fountain Hills and northeast Mesa, said O’Malley.
“Most areas would probably only see a few hundredths on an inch and most areas will probably see nothing at all,” he added.
A cooling trend was forecasted to begin Saturday, Dec. 27, with highs in the middle to upper 60s and lows in the lower 40s, according to O’Malley.
Additionally, dryer and cooler air was expected to sweep through the region through the weekend, O’Malley noted.
What is the forecast for northern Arizona?
In northern Arizona, a slight chance of rain was forecasted during the day on Friday, Dec. 26., Lewandowski said.
“There may be a chance for a quick shower throughout the day but realistically, it is going to stay pretty dry with some low clouds that are dissipating throughout the day,” said Lewandowski.
On Saturday, Dec. 27, a cold front was forecasted to move through the Flagstaff area, bringing the potential for accumulating snow by midday, according to Lewandowski.
According to the weather service, any accumulated snow was expected to clear by late afternoon, with sunny skies returning by Monday, Dec. 28.
