Climate change explains cooler winters and hotter summers in the valley.
It may also explain an increasingly wetter valley. A study released Monday said the valley is in one of the key regions expected to be most affected by changing weather patterns.
A National Center for Atmospheric Research study said the number of summertime storms that produce extreme downpours could increase by more than 400 percent in the Southwest.
Study author Andreas Prein said in the future, parts of the U.S. could expect to experience five times the level of current storms in a season, each with an intensity as strong or stronger than current storms.
The study found the intensity varies by region.
Arizona, New Mexico and Texas are all expected to see the nation’s highest rate, with rainstorms increasing by two to more than four times over the next century.
The U.S. Gulf Coast and Atlantic Coast are also expected to see the highest rates of rain, according to the study.
