The recent stretch of severe rain in the El Paso forecast may have let up temporarily, but a new round of wet weather is already possible for next week, the National Weather Service indicates.
While Friday's outlook calls for only scattered thunderstorms, with the best chances in Otero and Hudspeth Counties, the real question is how much rain El Paso has received thus far.
How much rain has El Paso received?
"Yesterday, we had a couple of strong storms move across mainly the lower valley where there were isolated rain totals of two inches or higher," said Tim Brice, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. "Closer to town, like East El Paso, you got slightly less than an inch of rain.
Moving further west, you had around a quarter of an inch. Yesterday the big winner was the lower valley."
Updated rain totals come on the heels of the National Weather Service in El Paso issuing a Flash Flood Warning for El Paso County early Wednesday, Sept. 23, after radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain.
How much rain could El Paso get?
The majority of the upcoming rainfall early next week will be focused on East El Paso, with spotty showers and the area drying out somewhat, Brice noted. Those storms could produce more than an inch of rain if that.
Why so much rain in El Paso lately?
El Paso has joined other areas like Las Cruces in the recent deluge as part of the usual cycle of rain this time of year. Previous rain-shower models have also attributed the moisture to the now-Category 5 Hurricane Polo approaching up the Mexican coast from the Pacific Ocean.
"The monsoon season is wrapping up on a high note and it the luck of the draw when it came to where it would rain," Brice said. "Today will be the last chance of rain with the region drying out on Saturday and Sunday with a surge of moisture on Saturday and Sunday with those possibly creating flash floods."
What does the current weather radar show?
Updated information on current rain conditions is available on the National Weather Service social media sites and website.
Texas weather watches and warnings
Kristian Jaime is the Top Story Reporter for the El Paso Times and is reachable at Kjaime@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El paso sees rain total spike amid monsoon season finale, NWS says
