A thing many of us forgot still existed here fell from the sky, particularly in the south East Valley, on Thursday. It was cool and wet and dropped from the clouds gathered overhead. Was it rain? Well, yes. But not officially.
The Valley continues its record-shattering streak of consecutively dry days today because, according to the National Weather Service, those sprinkles Thursday don’t add up to actual wet weather.
“The airport is what counts, not what Aunt Vivian sees in her backyard,” said Bill Estle, meteorologist with the weather service in Phoenix.
If a measurable amount of rain had fallen at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, then the streak would have been over.
Instead, the airport remained dry Thursday for the 114th straight day.
That streak will likely continue as forecasters predict the next week will be clear and sunny with no rain in sight.
Zero rain means nothing is washing away the dust and pollution in the air. Because of that, the state and Maricopa County warned that air quality in the Valley could reach unhealthy levels again today.
Burning wood, including manufactured logs, has been banned through midnight, and residents are being asked to travel less and car pool.
The previous record of 101 consecutively dry days in the Valley was broken last month.
