Last year ranked one of the fifth warmest years since 1895 even with abundant rainfall, so this year's heat may have the potential to break records. Low water with high temperatures brings a disastrous breeding ground for wildfires, and this year may be no exception as the National Weather Service predicts above normal temperatures for the entire state of Arizona from July through September. However, the grass/brush growth from the winter's rain brings potential wildfire concerns, especially in elevations below 6,000 feet. Since drought conditions are mostly inapplicable throughout the state currently, the lack of rain this monsoon doesn't bring increasing concerns. Last year's record-breaking rainfall brought in enough water to help short-term drought conditions in the state. The monsoon usually brings in about half of Arizona's annual rainfall, which replenishes water sources and lowers summer temperatures. "We've been in a pretty cool pattern so far so it's possible we could see a slight delay in the start of the monsoon season," Smith said.Įarlier this year, the state experienced an extremely wet winter, which considerably reduced drought coverage with only the far western side of the state ranking in with abnormally dry conditions. The 2021 season ranked as ninth wettest on record, according to the weather service's data.Īs we approach the standard Arizona monsoon season start date on June 15, conditions may look slightly different from years past, especially regarding the current conditions of the state heading into the season of thunderstorms and flooding. The monsoon in 2022 tied for the seventh wettest July-September on record with an average rain of 2.23 inches in Phoenix. This is an abrupt change from the past two years of wet monsoons that brought record-breaking rain to the state. "For the monsoon season, above normal temperatures are favored this summer with a slight tilt toward slightly below normal precipitation," said Isaac Smith, National Weather Service Phoenix meteorologist. The National Weather Service predicts that most of Arizona is going to have below normal precipitation during the monsoon with above normal temperatures, meaning Arizonans can face a hot and dry summer.įar western areas of the state such as Kingman and Yuma have equal chances for above, near, or below normal precipitation. Watch Video: Tips for driving in monsoon storms
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