Monsoons could break droughts in Southwest

Monsoons bringing rain across the Southwestern U.S. could help break droughts.

The rain comes as virtually the entire Grand Canyon state is under some level of drought, according to a map from the U.S. Drought Monitor released Thursday. 

The heaviest rain is concentrated in the worst drought regions in Arizona, which are along the border of New Mexico up the eastern side to the Utah border, CNN reported. Flash flood watches are currently in effect in all three states.

The National Weather service said the monsoon driven by heavy rainfall is expected through the weekend.

There is a moderate risk of excessive rainfall in parts of Arizona and New Mexico through Sunday morning. A slight risk of excessive rainfall is also in place for parts of southwest Utah, central New Mexico and southwest Colorado.

Roughly 1-4 inches of rain fell across the Tucson, Ariz. area on Friday, CNN reported.

Tucson International Airport recorded 0.48 inches of rain Saturday morning, pushing its monthly total to 3.45 inches of rain as of June 15, the National Weather Service said. More rain was expected on Saturday.

As of 5 am, the #Tucson Intl airport has recorded 0.48″ this morning. This pushes the July monthly total to 3.28″ which ranks as the 26th wettest July on record.

The #2021Monsoon total of 3.45″ ranks as the 15th wettest to date (6/15-7/24).

More rain to come today. #azwx

— NWS Tucson (@NWSTucson) July 24, 2021

Meanwhile in Phoenix, Phoenix Sky Harbor broke its record for daily rainfall on Friday with 0.80 inches of rain, eclipsing a previous record set in 2002 when 0.41 inches fell. Rainfall for the entire monsoon is at 1.172 inches at Sky Harbor since June 15.

Yesterday, Sky Harbor recorded a new daily rainfall total of 0.80 inches. This broke the old record of 0.41 inches set in 2002. Rainfall for the monsoon (since June 15th) is at 1.72 inches at Sky Harbor through 11:45 AM MST today. #azwx pic.twitter.com/dDqmVBmURp

— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) July 24, 2021