Metro Phoenix areas more prone to seeing rain? (Fountain Hills, Queen Creek: live in, suburbs)

[Chelito23]

I know that the mountains get more precipitation via thunderstorms during the monsoon season that the low lying valleys do, but when the rain makes it's way to the valley floor, are there favored areas which tend to see more precipitation compared with others low elevation areas?

In other words, does central PHX see more/less/the same amount of rain than western suburbs (random example-question)?

What areas see the most rain in Metro Phoenix, or is it all random and varies every year?

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by Chelito23

I know that the mountains get more precipitation via thunderstorms during the monsoon season that the low lying valleys do, but when the rain makes it's way to the valley floor, are there favored areas which tend to see more precipitation compared with others low elevation areas?

In other words, does central PHX see more/less/the same amount of rain than western suburbs (random example-question)?

What areas see the most rain in Metro Phoenix, or is it all random and varies every year?

North, east and southeast get more. West and especially Southwest gets the least.

[madmmac]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

North, east and southeast get more. West and especially Southwest gets the least.

I concur. I sit on my deck and watch the lightning to the East on many occasions.

[Xica_da_Silva]

I live in the Coronado Historic District, which I think most people would consider part of Central Phoenix, and we're very dry here. The rain is always threatening but never quite makes it to us...always winter, never Christmas! It's to the point that whenever the weather forecast says something like 60% rain, I do one of these: because we're always the 40%!

I can't even remember the last time we saw rain here (and by here I mean in my yard! lol)...has it been 2 months...maybe 3? Kind of disheartening for someone like me who would love fresh rain for my garden(helps to wash away some of the salt build-up in the soil)! And last year's monsoon? Pfft. Not impressed!

[Chelito23]

So who are the winners? If you had to pick streets or freeways to delineate the rainier from the drier, could you say east of 17 and north of 10, except for the Coronado District?

[LBTRS]

If you look at the doppler radar it always appears like Queen Creek is getting rain. Even when there isn't a cloud in the sky out here in the SW valley.

[AZtrails]

Basically, rainfall is highest in the NE part of the Valley and lowest in the SW part. Here's a dated graph from the National Weather Service showing mean rainfall for the whole county:

http://156.42.96.39/alert/Rain/mean_precip_map.gif

You can get individual years through 2008 by clicking here.

[Chelito23]

That is awesome, I appreciate that. I'm in the mood to thunderstorm watch already lol.

[Valley Native]

Rain??? What's that? It hasn't rained here in over two months, so I'm beginning to wonder what that even is anymore.
()

Seriously, the NE section of the metro area typically receives the most rain. It has been said that Phoenix only gets about eight inches every year, but that's mostly at Sky Harbor and the lower elevated locations. Many higher suburban areas in the north & east Valley can easily get 10 to 15 inches every year ... and not just during the monsoon. Even winter rains are more plentiful in these areas because of orographic lifting. Fountain Hills and Carefree are two of the wettest locations near Phoenix.

AVERAGE PRECIP FOR CAREFREE:
Jan. 1.90
Feb. 1.72
Mar. 1.89
April 0.62
May 0.14
June 0.09
July 1.04
Aug. 1.38
Sep. 0.92
Oct. 1.11
Nov. 0.82
Dec. 1.44
Annual 13.07

AVERAGE PRECIP FOR FOUNTAIN HILLS:
Jan. 1.53
Feb. 1.40
Mar. 1.56
April 0.44
May 0.20
June 0.06
July 1.13
Aug. 1.30
Sep. 0.96
Oct. 0.81
Nov. 0.90
Dec. 1.35
Annual 11.64