Rain to continue for Phoenix this weekend; closures in both directions on SR 143
Thursday marks a brief reprieve for Valley residents from the rainy conditions and flash flood watches of monsoon season, but things are expected to pick back up Friday and last throughout the weekend, the National Weather Service forecast shows.
On Thursday, temperatures are expected to climb back to their normal levels for this time of the year in Phoenix, with a high of 104 degrees, according to the weather service; however, the high humidity will make the heat fairly “uncomfortable.”
The weather service’s forecast discussion indicates there could be a few isolated storms but none likely to visit Phoenix, staying mostly in western deserts and eastern high terrain.
“Today, generally speaking, will be quieter,” said Bianca Feldkircher, a forecaster with the weather service’s Phoenix office, but there will be a significant difference coming Friday.
Going into the weekend, monsoon storms return, with chances of rain between 30% and 50% throughout the weekend.
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Feldkircher said thunderstorms are going to be pretty scattered, which is normal for monsoon weather, but the storms could produce upwards of an inch of rain for the Valley.
The weekend through Sunday all have a good chance of producing significant storm activity, and Feldkircher said there isn’t one day forecasted to be more productive than another. But it’s not likely significant activity will happen twice in a row, as the day after an active one is usually “fairly quiet as the atmosphere will need time to destabilize,” the weather service said in its forecast discussion.
Weekend temperatures are also expected to decrease due to storm activity, with toasty temperatures lingering Friday at a high of 103 degrees but then falling Saturday, Sunday and Monday to highs of 99 degrees.
The weather service predicts more rain in Phoenix through next week, although they say that’s still uncertain given some changing weather patterns and inconsistency in forecast models.
Feldkircher said Valley residents should also look out for hazards related to the rainy weather, including lightning, hail and gusty winds that could cause dust storms, even if the actual rain-producing storm is far off.
She said people should also be careful around “any roads that go through any types of washes,” as flash floods can quickly make them run.
As of Thursday early afternoon, the weather service has not issued any flood-related advisories for the Phoenix area, although nearly the entire northern half of Arizona, including Flagstaff, Prescott, Payson and Kingman, will remain under a flash flood watch until midnight.
Watch out for flooding: Monsoon rains wash away car, leave man dead near Kingman
State Route 143, Interstate 10 closed this weekend
State Route 143 will have closures in both directions this weekend as part of the I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
From 10 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Sunday, southbound S.R. 143 will be closed between Loop 202 and I-10. The closure also affects the ramps from Loop 202 and the on-ramps from Washington Street, Sky Harbor Boulevard and University Drive to Southbound S.R. 143.
Additionally, northbound S.R. 143 will be closed between I-10 and Washington Street from 10 p.m. Saturday to 4 a.m. Monday. Also included in the closure are the westbound I-10 ramp and University Drive to northbound S.R. 143, and northbound 48th Street will be closed between Broadway Boulevard and I-10.
Eastbound I-10 drivers will not be able to access northbound S.R. 143 at all during that time period, ADOT said.
ADOT recommended those going to the Phoenix Sky Harbor airport take eastbound Buckeye Road from westbound 1-10, and drivers coming from East Valley use 44th Street.
Eastbound I-10 will also be narrowed to three lanes for the I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project from Elliot to Warner roads from 10 p.m. Friday to 4 a.m. Monday.
Unrelated to the Broadway curve project, westbound I-10 will be closed between 51st Avenue and 75th Avenue from 9 p.m. Saturday to 2 p.m. Sunday as part of a paving improvement project, ADOT said in a weekend travel advisory. Additionally, the northbound Loop 202 ramp to westbound I-10 will be closed during the same time period.
Reach breaking news reporter Sam Burdette at sburdette@gannett.com or on Twitter @SuperSafetySam
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Monsoon rain to continue in Phoenix; closures on SR 143
