Monsoon

monsoon

Arizona’s Monsoon

Photo courtesy of Philip Tarrant
Photo courtesy of Philip Tarrant

Arizona resides within the North American Monsoon geographical arena. The monsoon season typically begins in early June when active thunderstorms build in central and southern Mexico. In mid- to late June, the thunderstorms move toward the International Border and into Arizona. The monsoon is a season where the dry, westerly winds (winds coming from the west) that typically persist through fall, winter and spring shift to moist, southerly winds (winds coming from the south). The incoming moisture helps build thunderstorm activity across the state.

Terminology: The term “monsoon” refers to a seasonal time of year where thunderstorms are more likely to occur. A monsoon is NOT a thunderstorm, but the monsoon season can help build thunderstorms.

Monsoon thunderstorm activity accounts for roughly half of the annual precipitation in central and northern Arizona, and two-thirds to three-fourths of the annual precipitation in southern Arizona. The short-lived, intense monsoon thunderstorms can often cause flash flooding in areas with steep terrain, low-lying roads, or normally dry washes. Lightning, hail, dust storms, and strong winds are common during the monsoon season.

SPC legend
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SPC legend
 
 

Outlook Day 1 (today)

Outlook Day 2 (tomorrow)

Outlook Day 3 (next day)

 

Total Monsoon Precipitation (to date)

Monsoon daily dewpoint tracker for Phoenix

 

Average Daily Dewpoint

Monsoon daily dewpoint tracker for Phoenix

Monsoon daily dewpoint tracker for Tucson

Monsoon daily dewpoint tracker for Flagstaff

 
 

Arizona Regional WRF Model Forecasts

WRF
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500mb height, wind, vorticity
NAMHRRRGFS

500mb height

 

700mb height, wind, relative humidity
NAMHRRRGFS

700mb height

 

850mb temperature, relative humidity, wind
NAMHRRRGFS

850mb height

 

2021 Monsoon Review

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NWS Southern Arizona Dust Storm Workshops

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Monsoon Literature

Arizona and the North American Monsoon System Crimmons
Understanding the Southwest Monsoon Guido

Long Term Changes of Transient Inverted Troughs Lahmers, et al

Basics of the Arizona Monsoon

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