Arizona Monsoon SeasonKnow How to Stay Safe During Spectacular Arizona Summer Thunderstorms Go to Arizona Monsoon Season sections: If you're a first time visitor to Arizona, you may be perplexed by all the summer weather watching.
But spend any time in Arizona’s 100°F+ summer and you'll know why we all so eagerly wait for the Arizona monsoon season. What Is a Monsoon?Technically, a monsoon is nothing more than a shift in wind direction.But that simple definition doesn't do justice to the spectacle of Arizona’s summer monsoon season. Every year - sometime between mid-June and mid-July - the sunny, hot weather Arizona is known for begins to change as the regional high pressure zone that sits east of Arizona shifts north. This shift lets prevailing winds, which come from the west most of the year, change direction and flow from the south and southeast. Known as the Mexican monsoon, this seasonal shift of winds brings tropical moisture from the Sea of Cortez and the Gulf of Mexico into Arizona. When this moist Mexican air collides with Arizona’s desert heat, monsoon thunderstorms are born. Monsoon thunderstorms are one of the most spectacular and thrilling of nature’s displays.
Desert dwellers yearn for the crack of thunder, the brilliant flashes of lightning and the deafening downpour of rain that cools the sweltering desert heat and makes the creosote bushes release their aromatic, herbal fragrance - if only for a few hours. Most monsoon thunderstorms develop in the late afternoon because that's when heat rises. When winds push against Arizona’s mountain ranges, that air has nowhere to go but up. That's why storms often start above the mountain ranges first. When Does Monsoon Season Start?So far, scientists have not been able to predict the start of the monsoon season down to the day.For many years, the National Weather Service’s Arizona monsoon definition stated that the monsoon starts when the average dew point - the temperature at which air must cool and water vapor condenses into rain - hits 54 degrees Fahrenheit for 3 consecutive days.
That change generally happens sometime in early to mid-July. However, as of 2008, the National Weather Service has adopted a new calendar-based method for tracking the Arizona monsoon season. By using this new system, they hope to raise awareness on storm safety - i.e. dust storms, lightning and flash floods - instead of pinpointing the exact day the winds shift or using the dewpoint measurement. In the past, major storms have struck before the dew point formula was reached. According to the National Weather service's new calendar method, the Arizona monsoon season will start on June 15 and end on September 30. They chose these dates from the analysis of a decades-worth of data including rainfall and season length. Of course when we actually see the first Arizona monsoon rains is still up to nature. When a monsoon thunderstorm moves in, temperatures may drop from 105°F to 60°F in a matter of minutes. The average amount of monsoon rainfall over the summer is 6 inches for the Sonoran Desert, which includes Phoenix and Tucson. However, the amount of rain can vary greatly from year to year. The Arizona monsoon season usually ends sometime in September.
Monsoon thunderstorms can be highly localized. In Tucson, for example, it can be sunny and clear in midtown but pouring out at Sabino Canyon on the eastside. If you’re out hiking or golfing, be aware that these storms can move swiftly and change direction and intensity rapidly. Our Monsoon Experience One August, we were sitting on our front porch watching a monsoon thunderstorm form over the west end of the Santa Catalina Mountains. At our house, it was hot and sunny but tall thunderheads rose up over the mountains, darkening and growing ever taller. Then the wind suddenly shifted and the clouds began to speed towards us. We knew that was our cue to head indoors. Within just a few minutes, the storm had crossed 15 miles and was right over us. It was the largest storm we ever experienced at our place. Ear-splitting thunder and sun-bright bolts of lightning cracked above our house, sending the cats scurrying under the bed. The wind was so powerful that the saguaros swayed from side to side like stalks of corn. It rained so hard that it sounded like a million nail guns pelting the roof. Whether you’re an Arizona vacationer or a resident, you need to be prepared for the high winds, lightning and rain that are trademarks of Arizona’s monsoon season. Read the monsoon safety tips below before traveling during the monsoon season. Monsoon Season Safety TipsPlan Ahead Before the Storm
When A Storm Begins Indoors:
Outdoors:
Sources: National Weather Service, Department of Geography-Arizona State University, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, Desert Research Institute Note to the Reader: This page is intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional advice. This information is not meant to cover every possible scenario or outcome. Before you travel, do your homework. YOU are solely responsible for your personal safety. Road conditions, weather and your personal knowledge and abilities all vary considerably. We cannot assume responsibility for you or anyone else’s safety that reads and uses this information. Safety really comes down to common sense and being aware of your abilities and limitations. Always inquire locally before traveling. Always be conservative when planning your trips and routes. Return to Arizona Weather page from Monsoon Season
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