Flooding Rain Continues Across Desert Southwest, Great Basin | WeatherBug
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Flooding Rain Continues Across Desert Southwest, Great Basin

November 3, 2020
UPDATED By WeatherBug Meteorologist, Alexa Maines and James West
Waves of heavy rain will continue across the Southwest and Great Basin today. A few spots could even receive strong to severe thunderstorms.
 
Although Rosa has dissipated, its remnant moisture will still lead to periods of rain across the Desert Southwest and Great Basin today. A cold front just off the California Coast will act as an additional forcing mechanism for showers and possibly even thunderstorms across California today.
 
Rain will begin to diminish later today, but more than half an inch of rain could accumulate across the higher elevations of the Great Basin and the Sierra Nevada. As a cold front approaches the California Coast from the Pacific, it will tap into the abundant moisture in place and could produce half an inch of rain across the Transverse Ranges near the California Coast.
 
On top of heavy rain, a few spots could see strong to severe thunderstorms this afternoon or this evening. Las Vegas and Henderson, Nev., along with Flagstaff, Ariz., could see thunderstorms capable of producing quarter-sized hail and wind gusts greater than 60 mph.
 
Burn scars from recent wildfires and sloped terrain could lead to flash flooding and debris flows. Remember, if you ever see water in the road, do not attempt to cross it – it is best to “Turn Around, Don’t Drown!” Flash Flood Watches continue from the Southwest into the Intermountain West. This includes Phoenix and Prescott, Ariz., Saint George and Provo, Utah, and Elko and Eureka, Nev.
 
Skies will fortunately begin to clear Friday morning as the disturbance moving onto the West Coast picks up the moisture and steers it into the Rockies and Plains.
 
Rosa's remnants are helping to smash a few records in Phoenix. October 2018 is now known as the fourth wettest October on record. October 2, 2018, is also number 2 on the top 10 wettest days in October with 2.36 inches of rainfall. The day is also the ninth wettest days on record. Phoenix also managed to shatter its daily rainfall record of just over half an inch on Tuesday. That record was previously set in 1981. This brings the yearly rainfall total since January 1 just over 6 inches, which is more than an inch over the average rainfall for the year thus far.