Monsoon season in effect tucson, arizona the weather channel. The monsoon, which is active midjune through late september, can present afternoon thunderstorms that produce lightning, high winds and heavy rains. On average, the starting date for monsoon conditions in phoenix is july 7 and the average ending date is september , but the official season starts and ends much later than the data supportsallowing for preparation for unexpected early and lateseason monsoons. Oct 15, 2017 arizona gets most of its rain from thunderstorms during the summer, a period called the north american monsoon see arizona monsoon for background and the anatomy of thunderstorms. Early june is generally better than monsoon season. 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. The official national weather service monsoon season begins thursday, june 15, but the meteorologists wont hazard a guess about when the summer rains will arrive or how prolific they may be. 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. Lightning touches down with a rain cell northwest of town on july 31, 2017, west of tucson, ariz. Timely tips for staying safe during arizonas monsoon season. Will global warming weaken the north american monsoon. The monsoon season suppresses much of the hot summer temperatures, replenishes water resources, and nourishes the vegetation. Information on monsoon sedona, az first of all, there is no need to add season at the end of monsoon because monsoon is a season. The 2017 southwest monsoon is weeks away, and the national weather service has released its forecast for the upcoming wet season.
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 season has been a lively one. Monsoon season in the southwestern united states durango. Daily star photographers captured the 2017 monsoon season around tucson and southern arizona. This is the arizona monsoon, a seasonal phenomenon that gets its name from the arabic word mausim, which means season or windshift. The monsoon season in phoenix phoenix arizona waterfront. The official monsoon season starts june 15 and ends sept. Arizona summer monsoon season precipitation mapping 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. Heavy rains, an arizona haboob aka dust storm and high winds. On the morning of july 24, 2017, following heavy rains on the late evening and early morning hours of 2324 july, nearly 320 feet of fresh fissure opened near west houston ave. Monsoon officially starts on june 15th and ends on september 30th. Im willing to leave behind my family, friends and job if it means getting to relax in a cooler temperature, he said.
Early june has a much higher likelihood of being a good experience over the late july monsoon season. Although june 15 is often referred to by the national weather service as the start of the arizona monsoon season, the meteorology department at embryriddle aeronautical universitys prescott campus is predicting a delayed start to the annual summer rainy season. The dew point is a measure of moisture in our atmosphere, and when the dew points start to climb, its a good indication that our weather pattern has shifted and the monsoon season has arrived. The oldschool method was dropped because every regional national weather service office had different methods of marking the rainy season.
The arizona monsoonthe origin of the term transition. Basic monsoon information lets start off with some general information about monsoon season in northern arizona. The timing of the season varies a little depending on where you are in the country chiang mai does not have the same rainy season as koh samui, for instance but generally the rains start around june and stretch out to october some places are much rainier than others. Governor ducey proclaims monsoon awareness week office. The ground gets wetted down once you get into the monsoon season, but the early part of the season, the air is still dry like what were seeing now. A guide to arizonas monsoon season by teresa on aug. The old farmer s almanac s scientificallybased, long range forecasts can be used to make more informed decisions about future plans that depend on the weather, from vacations. The 2017 arizona monsoon season will finish up just a little below average. Quick real life vid i made to share about the rain in arizona for monsoon season.
Early monsoon teased tucson, but season officially begins. 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. Arizona monsoon season just started according to oldschool method. Whats ahead in 2018 after recordbreaking weather in 2017. While many forecasters are predicting this years monsoon storms will appear later than usual, ua climatologists say the start of the 2019 monsoon season is still up in the air. Jul 25, 2017 thread in the southwest gardening forum forum by steve812. While the monsoon is the most volume of rainfall it is not the only desert rains to fall.
The storms usually peak between midjuly to midaugust and usually the monsoon season is over by around september. Jun 26, 2019 monsoon storms are definitely on their way to southern arizona, though predictions of when they will start vary. See long range weather forecasts for the next 60 days for the desert southwest region. Monsoon season likely to start later than usual news. The arizona monsoon starts mid july and is a welcome break from the full summer heat. 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 the arizona monsoon remains cloudy. Though monsoon season holds 30 percent of the valleys rainfall, phoenix has seen none since the start.
Useful facts, figures, tips and more about arizona s monsoon season and its impact on the phoenix area. The effects of the monsoon can look statistically severe, but the intensive rains only last until mid august. The monsoon brings with it high winds, dust and down pours which can result in flash flooding. Officially runs from june 15th to september 30th however, in northern arizona, monsoonal moisture typically does not reach the region until the first week of july. Apr 05, 2020 information on monsoon sedona, az first of all, there is no need to add season at the end of monsoon because monsoon is a season. If planning to visit or recreate in the southwestern united states in the summertime, its important to be aware of the afternoon thunderstorms typical of monsoon season. Monsoon is a weather condition that is actually defined as a season. The monsoon season in phoenix phoenix arizona waterfront homes. Jun 10, 2017 the official national weather service monsoon season begins thursday, june 15, but the meteorologists wont hazard a guess about when the summer rains will arrive or how prolific they may be.
Late start predicted for 2019 arizona monsoon season the. So whether it be june 15th or july 8th when the rains start, it is usually because the 55 degree dew point has been reached. And even though monsoon season starts on june 15, june remains the states driest month of the year. Monsoons in northern arizona, for example, usually show up around the fourth of july, but that could be delayed a. Late june and early july are the hottest time of the year generally at the grand canyon. Andhra pradesh received 45% belownormal rain this year during the pre monsoon season, which is the period from march 1 to may 31. 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. Roughly 50% of the time, though, southern arizonas first thunderstorms roll between july 1 and july 8, dropping an average of 6. It was just the summer rains another thing is the weather folks got together and decided to pull a arbitrary date out of their ass, i think they decided on june 15 as the start of the monsoon which of course is ridiculous. In 2008, the national weather service determined the az monsoon starting date along with the ending date of september 30. 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.
By government decree, the monsoon season lasts from june 15 through september 30. Emergency personnel have tips to that should help keeper you prepared and safe for the coming weeks of storms. After a flat start in june, we start heading uphill in late july. During the summer, we get the monsoon season arizona. As monsoon season starts take steps to keep your family safe. It looks like this year the summer monsoon got its start a little earlier than usual. A recent article in sciencenews talks about with climate change the monsoon season could heat up creating stronger rainy seasons over the long term. Arizona s unpredictable monsoon season officially begins saturday. Embryriddle meteorology expects late start to arizona. Adwr is the lead state agency for the arizona flood warning system. What should a biker know about or do during monsoon season in. Our monsoon is the most pronounced in southern arizona and becomes more marginal over northern arizona. If the oldschool method still held, arizonas monsoon season would have started.
In the phoenix area, the moisture is usually here by the first or second week in july. Arizona s rainy season has yet to begin due to a delayed start to crucial weather systems. Although for a few storms last week it seems that the season still hasnt shifted into gear. While dramatic thunderstorms are the big stars of the monsoon, its the seasonal shift in wind, from about midjune to midseptember, that defines the phenomenon. 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. Monsoon storms are definitely on their way to southern arizona, though predictions of when they will start vary. Traders sailing the indian ocean and arabian sea used the word monsoon to describe a system of alternating winds which blow from the northeast during the northern. The national weather service officially defines monsoon season as the period between june 15 and september 30. Monsoons adot arizona department of transportation. The official start date of the arizona monsoon season is june 15. Arizona summer monsoon season precipitation mapping. 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. Two ingredients are necessary to produce the monsoon. That leaves much of the state dry and dusty in front of forthcoming, powerful winds the storms.
The southwest monsoon season begins soon, and heres what forecasters are expecting. The monsoon lasts longer in the south, usually beginning around the middle of june. Adot urges drivers to be prepared for summer storms. Arizona s monsoon is the northern extent of the north american monsoon, which begins in early june in central and southern mexico. 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. With the start of a new year, the biggest question so many of us have is what will mother nature bring us this time. To the north, meanwhile, the strong storms started in earnest early. The updated definition of the monsoon identifies a season that lasts for 108 days with defined start and end dates of june 15 and sept 30. The answer i received was that the continue reading the monsoon season in phoenix. When i first arrived in arizona, i asked why a summer rain storm is called a monsoon storm.
In arizona, monsoon storms are typically experienced during the summer. Hitormiss 2017 monsoon season coming to end in arizona. Jun 14, 2019 arizona s unpredictable monsoon season officially begins saturday. With it comes higher humidity, which can lead to thunderstorms, heavy rain, lightning, hail, high winds, flash flooding, dust storms and extreme heat. Arizona summer thunderstorm season is know as monsoon the beginning of july, the monsoon made its entrance. Jul 11, 2017 if monsoon season does not start within the next week or so, i am going to strongly consider packing up my bags and leaving the city without ever coming back, said one particularly enraged tucson citizen. Arizona monsoon 2017 finishes on the dry side arizona republic. The monsoon season arrives in sedona sedona, arizona. Dont look to monsoon season for weather relief any time.
Arizonas monsoon is the northern extent of the north american monsoon, which begins in early june in central and southern mexico. 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. This time of year should be associated with afternoon rainstorms and lightning, so be prepared and plan accordingly. 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. Arizona and new mexico receive up to half of their annual rainfall during the summer monsoon figure 1. Arizonas monsoon season begins in june and continues through september. From june 1 to june 6, delhi has received 11 mm against the.
My main gripe about the monsoon is first of all, the term was never used in arizona years ago. Timely tips for staying safe during arizonas monsoon season az. For those chasers in az, we are probably waiting for the start of the az monsoon season. Jun 14, 2019 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. I heard early in july that it is now officially monsoon season thanks to the dew point in phoeni. The answer i received was that the arizona monsoon season begins when there are 3 consecutive days of an average dewpoint of 55 degrees or higher. Monsoon affects the west and southwest states because the pattern of the weather changes as noted below. Arizona s monsoon season begins in june and continues through september. So, the question i would like to pose is for when you think the monsoon season will.
Pete gregoirenoaa weather in focus photo contest 2015. The meteorology department at embryriddle aeronautical university in prescott this week predicted a much later start to the summer rainy season. Arizonas monsoon season drives earth fissure activity e. In the southern part of the country look at the picture above, the wet season starts in april all the way up to september sometimes even october, while junejulyaugust are the most rainheavy months of the year. A flash flood in midjuly 2017 took the lives of nine people in north phoenix. Beginning in 2008, the national weather service established june 15 as the first day and september 30 as the last day of the states monsoon season, allowing visitors and residents alike to pay attention to monsoon safety rather than the technicalities of the season s start and end dates. Although june 15 is often referred to by the national weather service as the start of the arizona monsoon season, the meteorology department at embryriddle aeronautical. Jul 09, 2018 8 things you need to know about monsoon season jul 9, 2018. Apr 03, 2017 there is not much to worry about, for what is known as monsoon season in the desert southwest are some brief scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms, mainly over mountainous terrain and the edges of the desert such as tucson and phoenix. 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. The monsoon season officially wraps up saturday after an unspectacular showing in phoenix. The old farmer s almanac s scientificallybased, long range forecasts can be used to make more informed decisions about future plans that depend on the weather, from vacations and weddings to sporting events and outdoor activities. Strong storms bringing wind and rain pass through tucson, arizona. In actuality, rains usually start in early july following the raindance ceremony of the tohono oodham.
241 267 340 220 948 912 65 218 819 723 370 241 1216 25 1411 1252 265 968 989 1453 495 12 709 1368 331 920 1388 1367 1056 90 665 848 514 963 435 1102 1108 990