80% chance of rain threatens Phoenix Halloween weekend
National Weather Service forecasts wet conditions Friday and Sunday, while Saturday daytime remains dry with low-to-mid 70s temperatures.
By Vikram Harrison ·
Metro Phoenix residents face an 80% chance of precipitation this Friday, October 30, according to the National Weather Service.
The forecast predicts showers and possible thunderstorms for the Valley on Friday. Storms could deliver as much as three-quarters of an inch of rain to the area. Heavier downpours are expected in some locations, with a risk of flooding.
The weather pattern shifts for Halloween on Saturday, October 31. The NWS projects a 20% chance of showers during the day. Rain is unlikely during the early evening hours between 5 and 8 p.m., which is the peak time for trick-or-treating. Temperatures are expected to range in the low to mid 70s.
Conditions change later in the day. There is a 60% chance of rain on Saturday night. Showers are most likely to occur after 11 p.m., affecting late-night events and parties.
The wet weather returns on Sunday, November 1. The NWS forecasts an 80% chance of storms in the Valley for that day.
These showers coincide with strengthening El Niño conditions in the Pacific Ocean. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials state that the developing El Niño is widely reported as possibly becoming one of the strongest on record. This pattern could bring more rainfall to Arizona.
The last time Phoenix experienced rain on Halloween was in 1987. The Valley received 0.13 inches of precipitation that year, according to NWS records.
