Four Corners Expecting More Flooding Rain, Mountain Snow

Cut-off low pressure has been slowly moving onshore from the Pacific in California, sending rounds of showers and thunderstorms into the Four Corners and Great Basin. This has led to up to 3-5 inches of rain in portions of Arizona, producing flash flooding issues. Large hail, up to the size of quarters, was also reported around the Phoenix metro area on Tuesday.

This system will continue to produce heavy downpours and mountain snow as it slowly moves east to end the week, before another system fires up a new round of storms.

Flooding

Flood watches remain in effect into Thursday morning for a few counties in Central Arizona. Interstates could be impacted, especially I-17 but I-40 and I-10 could see impacts as well.

As another system brings moisture back to the region to end the week, additional flooding (as well as thunderstorms and snow) will be expected.

The Weather Prediction Center is highlighting isolated flash flooding threats through the end of the week. Additional outlooks may be needed for Saturday.

Forecast

Scattered heavy downpours will continue to shift slowly east on Wednesday, with heavy rain sticking around AZ and UT for much of the day. Wednesday night into Thursday will see the heaviest precipitation shifting into NM and CO as the low heads into the Great Plains. Rain will stack along the Front Range of Colorado Thursday into Friday, with heavy mountain snow expected. See below for the snow focused forecast.

The next round of rain arrives in Arizona by Friday, with isolated flooding possible. Rain totals through Saturday could easily top an inch or two in many locations, sometimes coming down very quickly.

Snow

The mountains around the Four Corners can expect a healthy round of snow with the back-to-back lows through the end of the week. 6-12 inches or more can be expected on the highest summits. The snow has prompted winter weather advisories for portions of UT, CO, and NM.

Will Denver record their first snow of the season with this system? It looks too warm for the Front Range, but it can't be completely ruled out. At least the mountains (which had been off to a record dry start to the season) will get a healthy dose, so expect slow travel on I-70 at times.