Monsoon Moisture Shutting Down in the Southwest

5 Sep 2021, 3:00 am

After a very rainy week across the Southwest due to moisture from the remnants of Hurricane Nora and monsoon moisture, the tap is starting to shut off for much of the area. Rain totals have been upwards of 1-3″ for a large part of the region! There have also been a few severe storms, including yesterday near the Denver metro where hail fell and blanketed the ground.

The last two monsoon seasons have not provided much moisture to Arizona. Drought conditions have worsened but this year’s significant rain has helped diminish drought significantly.

The Phoenix area has measured more than 5″ of rain since early June when monsoon season started!

Monsoon moisture will not be as widespread as it was earlier this week. Flood potential is more limited as well, with isolated to scattered rain and storms limited to southern New Mexico and Arizona. Widespread additional rain will be less than 1″.

Rainfall Outlook

Isolated flood reports are possible in the Southwest today and tomorrow, with rain coming to an end by Labor Day.

Forecast

Storms will be more isolated to scattered in nature than earlier this week, but may produce very heavy rainfall where they occur.

Rain will become more scarce tomorrow as upper level energy along with a cold front move east into the Plains.

WeatherNation will keep you posted on the threat for flooding in the Southwest. Check back with us on-air and online for updates.

About the author

Kara James

Kara has always been passionate about weather and knew from an early age that she wanted to become a meteorologist. Living in different regions of the country and experiencing weather events ranging from ice storms to tornadoes drove her to pursue a bachelor's degree in meteorology from the University of Oklahoma. Throughout college, storm chasing became a regular event for Kara, where she saw fir... Load Morest-hand the power of the atmosphere. Kara graduated cum laude from OU and decided to further her meteorology education with a Master's degree from Mississippi State University. The deadly April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak struck while Kara was studying at MSU; her first “Dixie Alley” tornado event and an up close glimpse into the destruction of the storms she so closely studied. Her broadcast career began in Elvis’ birthplace, Tupelo, Mississippi, where she earned her Certified Broadcast Meteorologist seal from the American Meteorological Society. Kara's career has included coverage of all types of severe weather including tornado events, flooding and tropical systems across multiple southern states. Recently she helped cover the 2020 Easter Sunday deadly tornado outbreak in southeast Mississippi. In her free time, you can find Kara outdoors exploring new areas with her mini poodle,Truffles. Kara is also an avid runner and frequently races in 5Ks, 10Ks and half marathons. Say hi to Kara on Twitter and Facebook!