We’re in the off quite the rainstorm here in the Valley of the Sun. This one started in the gulf of Alaska, dipped way down south below California, and is coing at us from Baja Mexico. Ken Clark of Accuweather has all the details. Ken?

This is one of the better storms I have seen for Arizona in some time. It is likely to bring hefty amounts of rain to the deserts and very heavy snow to the mountains. Rain will fall heavily at times in the lowlands with easily 1/2 to 1 inch of rain with locally up to more than 1.50 inches. Snow levels will be down to at least 5,000 feet, and locally less. Snow accumulations in the mountains of central and east-central Arizona will be 15 to 30 inches above 6,500 feet with 10 to 20 inches in the southeast mountains. Between 5,000 and 6,500feet expect at least 6 to 12 inches of snow. Travel in the mountains certainly will require chains and you may want to think twice about heading that way unless you have to. With the rain that is expected I would plan on for some local washes to fill up fast and run deep causing flooding of some roadways. Remember, never, ever attempt to drive through running water no matter how shallow it looks. The storm in Arizona tapers off late Tuesday night and ends by Wednesday.

All I can say is that it was raing steadily when we worke up on Monday, rained until nighttime, and started raining again overnight. You can count on one hand the amount of multi-day rain storms we’ve had here since we moved here back in the fall of 2003. All I can say is that I’m glad I finished my patio painting and final backyard work over the weekend!

Of course, being in the desert southwest you won’t hear too many people complaining about a rain event like this. As Eric Clapton once sang…