It seemed for a while this summer that the rains might never come, but that was likely just the feeling of those who were chafing under the Arizona summer’s triple-digit heat.

There was no need to worry, according to the National Weather Service office in Flagstaff.

July ushered in the Arizona monsoon to the Verde Valley with above-average rainfall for this time of year.

“Most of the locations we monitor saw above-normal precipitation,” said Megan Schwitzer, a forecaster with the Flagstaff NWS office.

While sudden storms can create hazards like downed trees and an increased risk of flash floods, the rains also helped keep temperatures down somewhat.

For the full story, please see the Wednesday, Aug. 8, issue of the Camp Verde Journal.