Lightning strikes on tucsons westside during an evening monsoon. In 1965 i moved to phoenix, arizona with my family. Jun 14, 2008 the news keeps saying in a couple days. Jun 28, 2005 for those chasers in az, we are probably waiting for the start of the az monsoon season. The north american monsoon is known to many as the summer, southwest, mexican or arizona monsoon. The move, at least in part, allows the weather service to consistently promote its monsoon safety messages. South arizona in monsoon season tucson forum tripadvisor. Jan 15, 2018 watch for desert southwest 2018 and arizona monsoon 2018 next summer, i am doing a multistate and multiweek production. The monsoon season arrives in sedona sedona, arizona. Monsoon season officially begins in arizona june 15 arizona. This is the first year they have changed the way they are doing the monsoon season.
Monsoon season, as declared by the national weather. A guide to arizonas monsoon season by teresa on aug. With it comes higher humidity, which can lead to thunderstorms, heavy rain. You cant beat dry heat though it can get pretty sticky around monsoon season, a typical day in tucson has a humidity of ten percent or less. If you wanted to experience the real deal, you had. Our monsoon is the most pronounced in southern arizona and becomes more marginal over northern arizona.
In 2008, the national weather service determined the az monsoon starting date along with the ending date of september 30. A slow start to monsoon 2019 but some rain falls in tucson today july 7, 2019 4. The moistureladen monsoon air travels north to arizona and new mexico, encouraged by the pressure difference between the hot, parched southwestern air and the cooler mexican air. Stormy weather already has arrived in southeastern arizona and the sierra madre occidental range in northern mexico. Now it is a general time of year, rather than the above 55 degree dew point for three days method that was used previously. June, 2012 asu climatologist randall cerveny says that although monsoon season begins june 15, after the national weather service recently defined this date as the monsoon s new seasonal start, forecasting the actual start of the arizona monsoon remains cloudy.
Weather patterns lining up for latecoming monsoon azpm. Am i correct that the monsoon season is characterised mostly by afternoon. The monsoon season suppresses much of the hot summer temperatures, replenishes water resources, and nourishes the vegetation. My father took the job of meteorologist in charge for the national weather service, now known as national oceanic and atmospheric administration noaa. The pleasant spring weather weve enjoyed in the phoenix area and throughout arizona could push back the start of the 2019 arizona monsoon. In 2008, national weather service officials decided to consider june 15september 30 as the u. Arizonas monsoon season begins in june and continues through september. The storms usually peak between midjuly to midaugust and usually the monsoon season is over by around september. The monsoon is a season, during which the dry westerly winds that persist through fall, winter and spring shift to moist southerly winds, bringing thunderstorm activity into arizona. Sea being either the gulf of california or gulf of mexico. The official start date of the arizona monsoon season is june 15.
Jun 21, 2019 arizona monsoon thunderstorms can range from minor to extreme storms. From our kitchen window and upper viewing deck, we look out east over the city. For a most of the year, low level winds of tucsons sonora desert regions tend to blow from the land toward the sea. The day can start hot and clear, but in the late afternoon, the clouds bring an ominous darkness and the air feels thick and prickly. Typically, tucson will receive its first monsoon rainfall near july 3 almost three weeks after the seasons official start date, which is this friday, june 15. For a most of the year, low level winds of tucson s sonora desert regions tend to blow from the land toward the sea. If you wanted to experience the real deal, you had to.
Summer heat brings on the monsoon season with thunderous rain storms and blustery or even galeforce winds. Even during the monsoon season, it does not rain all day. Right now, were typically still baking under 115 degree temperatures, waiting for some relief from the heat whenever we happen to find ourselves away from the air conditioner. From 19482018, the most common start date for the monsoon based on the traditional definition of three consecutive days of a certain dewpoint temperature is july 3 for both phoenix and tucson.
So, the question i would like to pose is for when you think the monsoon season will. For those chasers in az, we are probably waiting for the start of the az monsoon season. Sometimes during monsoon season, a more severe dust storm forms. What it means is that today is june 15, the official start of the monsoon season, according to the national weather service. Daily star photographers captured the 2017 monsoon season around tucson and southern arizona. Lightning touches down with a rain cell northwest of town on july 31, 2017, west of tucson, ariz. In 2008 the national weather service decided to declare a monsoon season from june 15 to sept. Watch for desert southwest 2018 and arizona monsoon 2018 next summer, i am doing a multistate and multiweek production. Arizonas monsoon status arizonas monsoon is the northern extent of the north american monsoon, which begins in early june in central and southern mexico.
Monsoons adot arizona department of transportation. To see long term forecasts for the entire year, pick up a copy of the 2020 old farmers almanac, available online and in stores. Monsoon season occurs every year in tucson and southern. Although for a few storms last week it seems that the season still hasnt shifted into gear. Arizona s monsoon season begins in june and continues through september. Arizonas summer monsoon still no match for indias uanews. Arizona monsoon season 2019 started slow but it might finish strong. In the phoenix area, the moisture is usually here by the first or second week in july. Before you start watching the clouds roll in, here are some cool facts and. While the monsoon is the most volume of rainfall it is not the only desert rains to fall. The monsoon lasts longer in the south, usually beginning around the middle of june.
Jul 25, 2010 the monsoon season in arizona is from june 15 to september 30, but in phoenix it doesnt usually start until about early to midjuly with an average start date around july 7. Arizona and new mexico receive up to half of their annual rainfall during the summer monsoon figure 1. Monsoon storms are definitely on their way to southern arizona. This video shows the beginning of the summer monsoons. Chiggers are found in the patagonia area in the summer monsoon season. Arizona monsoon season begins today, the monsoon season starts today. Arizona made up for one of those deaths during 2016s monsoon season. Jun 26, 2019 the national weather service officially defines monsoon season as the period between june 15 and september 30.
Roughly 50 percent of the time, though, southern arizonas first thunderstorms roll. As of this year and from now on, the national weather service has designated june 15 to be the first day of the arizona monsoon and september 30 to be the last day. Technology expected to help drivers in arizona dust storms. Prior to 2008, the phoenix area monsoon season was considered to start when there were three consecutive days that the dew point averaged 55 degrees or higher, but in 2008 the national weather service decided to take the guesswork out of monsoon start and end dates. Although rain is a part of monsoon season in arizona, high winds, dust storms, and even tornados can result from the high dewpoints recorded. Monsoon season in arizona used to be determined by dew points, but in 2008, the national weather service declared it runs from june 15 to september 30. In monsoon season, we watch the thunderheads build up in the afternoons over the tucson basin. Conditions are right for rain in phoenix only a few days each month.
Am i correct that the monsoon season is characterised mostly by afternoon thunderstorms which blaze for a. Arizona monsoon season begins today the arizona republic. Jul 07, 2019 a slow start to monsoon 2019 but some rain falls in tucson today july 7, 2019 4. Adot urges drivers to be prepared for summer storms. Arizona summer monsoon season precipitation mapping. May 05, 2015 the official start date of the arizona monsoon season is june 15. Prior to this year, monsoon season started on the third consecutive day that the dew point is over 55 degrees, which happened, on average, on june 7. According to the tucson audubon society, chiggers are found in summer in some parts of arizona.
Roughly 50 percent of the time, though, southern arizona s first thunderstorms roll. Tucson is also a major destination for bird nerds since the area is home to the largest diversity of bird species outside the amazon rainforest. This event occurred one day before the official national weather service monsoon. Arizona and i mean mesa does have all four seasons they are more subtle than in other places. For years, arizonas summer stormy season wasnt regarded as a fullfledged monsoon. But if you get outside every day and and take in life there is a quiet change in each of them. The north american monsoon, variously known as the southwest monsoon, the mexican monsoon, the new mexican monsoon, or the arizona monsoon, is a pattern of pronounced increase in thunderstorms and rainfall over large areas of the southwestern united states and northwestern mexico, typically occurring between july and mid september. The arizona monsoonthe origin of the term transition town. Arizona monsoon thunderstorms can range from minor to extreme storms. It looks like this year the summer monsoon got its start a little earlier than usual. Late start predicted for 2019 arizona monsoon season the.
The national weather service officially defines monsoon season as the period between june 15 and september 30. Some parts of the tucson metro area have already smelled the sweet. Mar 02, 2009 arizona and i mean mesa does have all four seasons they are more subtle than in other places. With it comes higher humidity, which can lead to thunderstorms, heavy rain, lightning, hail, high winds, flash flooding, dust storms and extreme heat. June, 2012 asu climatologist randall cerveny says that although monsoon season begins june 15, after the national weather service recently defined this date as the monsoons new seasonal start, forecasting the actual start of. February 2020 long range weather forecast for desert southwest. Maps are updated once a day from june 15 september 30th using gridded precipitation data nominally 4km by 4km provided by the national weather service advanced. I am documenting the 20 monsoon season in tucson arizona. The towering, often terrifying thunderstorms that signal the start of arizonas monsoon season typically begin in midjune and last through the end of september, but meteorologists say well. Arizonas summer monsoon doesnt officially begin until this friday, june 15, but the humidity started creeping up last week. The monsoon season will be well over by then most likely and the weather will be very nice, although it could still be in the low 100s. The arizona monsoon starts mid july and is a welcome break from the full summer heat. Although the four seasons have start dates that appear on a calendar, people are usually not concerned if the weather on that day is consistent with the season.
The maps below are focused on capturing unique elements of the summer monsoon season across arizona including total precipitation, intensity, and frequency of precipitation events. The monsoon season in arizona is from june 15 to september 30, but in phoenix it doesnt usually start until about early to midjuly with an average start date around july 7. As a result, adot is hoping to show motorists the real meaning of pull aside, stay alive with new television and radio publiceducation announcements that focus on the dangers drivers who try to drive through dust storms. May 24, 2008 as of this year and from now on, the national weather service has designated june 15 to be the first day of the arizona monsoon and september 30 to be the last day. In some areas, you may notice dust storms forming accompanied by frequent thunder, lightning and rain. Late start predicted for 2019 arizona monsoon season the three most important factors to avoid hydroplaning are tire tread depth, speed and the amount of water on the road. They usually start with heavy winds accompanied by heavy rain.
The monsoon season officially begins in arizona on june 15 and the threat of dust storms increases. Arizonas monsoon is the northern extent of the north american monsoon, which begins in early june in central and southern mexico. These wind shifts are the mechanism for the monsoon in southern arizona. Once this process begins, the onset of the monsoon season can be rapid. The arizona monsoon officially begins when there are three consecutive days of dewpoint above 55 degrees, or three consecutive days of residents feeling inexplicably cranky and damp. The official monsoon season starts june 15 and ends sept. Long range forecasts are regional, not cityspecific. The weather is much more likely to be nicer in tucson than in phoenix phoenix will be hotter and more humid. The day can start hot and clear, but in the late afternoon, the clouds bring. The official monsoon season in tucson az is from june 15 to september 30. Since 2008, the national weather service has decreed a monsoon season from june 15 to september 30, but it still keeps track of the monsoon start by a measure it used from 1949 until 2008 the.
Safety tips for arizonas monsoon season my tucson movers. Hi, have now setlled on three nights in tucson and one night in ajo as i am keen to visit organ pipe nm this august. With arizonas monsoon season approaching, state transportation planners plan to begin installing a new dustdetection system on interstate 10. The effects of the monsoon can look statistically severe, but the intensive rains only last until mid august. Jun 21, 20 i am documenting the 20 monsoon season in tucson arizona. The monsoon started on that date nine times during that period in tucson and 10 times in phoenix. Southwest monsoon season in arizona, although the thunderstorms. After 100 days of dry, the phenomena known as the arizona monsoon has finally arrived with a vengence.