NWS Phoenix

Weather Forecast Office

Phoenix, Yuma, & El Centro 2020 Climate Year in Review

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The year 2020 ended up being the 2nd warmest year recorded in the history of Phoenix, Arizona and 6th warmest at El Centro, CA. Unfortunately, prolonged equipment outages at Yuma, Arizona preclude an accurate ranking versus historical records. Records for Phoenix began in 1896, first taken in downtown and since moved to Sky Harbor airport in the 1950s. Records in Yuma began in 1878 and 1932 in El Centro.

2019 started with a very weak El Nino transitioning into a neutral condition. The resulting weather pattern was fairly typical for January and February, albeit drier than normal across the region. That changed quite abruptly in March and April as a series of storm systems swept through the Southwest. As it ended up, these spring precipitation events were very welcome with generous mountain snowfall eventually helping nearly fill local reservoirs.

However, the soaking rains across lower elevations had a not-so-welcome consequence of forcing a surge in growth of grasses and small bushes (and lawn weeds for local residents). Once the hotter, drier spring season settled into full effect, these grasses and bushes dried into abundant, dense fuels ready to burn. With two successive "wet" winters, the amount of fine fuels at lower elevations was more than had been seen in over a decade. And not surprisingly, wildfire became a serious and dangerous issue for Arizona. By the end of summer, nearly 1 million acres had burned in Arizona - more than the past 2 years combined.

The 2020 summer monsoon started slowly and never really was able to pull substantial moisture into the region. High pressure became locked directly over southern Arizona trapping better moisture into central Mexico and producing day after day of excessive heat. In Phoenix, July 2020 set a record for the hottest month ever recorded in the city (since records began in 1896). Not to be outdone, August 2020 broke the July 2020 record such that these 2 summer months now stand as the hottest two on record for Phoenix. The heat wasn't reserved just for Phoenix, as the entire Southwest region experienced its hottest and driest monsoon on record.

With very little thunderstorm activity in the summer, the hot and dry conditions persisted nearly seamlessly into the autumn. In fact in addition to the summer, autumn 2020 was also the warmest on record for the region. Given the heat and prolonged dryness, drought rapidly emerged through the middle of the year with the rarest category of Exceptional Drought setting an unprecedented amount of coverage in Arizona through the fall season. While the hot weather finally relaxed late in the fall and early winter, precipitation still has been lacking allowing drought to take a solid hold on the area.

Phoenix Statistics

2020	Value	Rank
Avg High	89.5	2nd Warmest
Avg Low	64.9	Tied 5th Warmest
Avg Temp	77.2	2nd Warmest
Rain	5.00	28th Driest

Yuma Statistics

2020	Value	Rank
Avg High	Missing	Missing
Avg Low	63.3	17th Warmest
Avg Temp	Missing	Missing
Rain	4.15	37th Wettest

El Centro Statistics

2020	Value	Rank
Avg High	90.1	5th Warmest
Avg Low	59.8	10th Warmest
Avg Temp	74.9	Tied 6th Warmest
Rain	2.51	44th Wettest

***Please note all climatic data are considered preliminary until validated by the National Centers for Environmental Information***

Phoenix Annual Temperature Rankings (Warmest Years)

Year	Avg Daily Temp
2017	77.3
2020	77.2
2014	77.1
1989	76.9
2016	76.7
2015	76.7
2012	76.7
2018	76.4
2007	76.4
2003	76.3

Year	Avg Max Temp
1989	89.8
2020	89.5
2017	89.1
2014	88.9
2012	88.7
2016	88.5
1934	88.3
2018	88.1
2015	88.0
2002	88.0

Year	Avg Min Temp
2017	65.4
2015	65.4
2014	65.4
2016	65.0
2020	64.9
2003	64.9
2007	64.8
2018	64.7
2012	64.7
2001	64.4

	Avg Max Temp	Highest Temp	Avg Min Temp	Lowest Temp	Avg Temp	Rank (1=Warmest, 125=Coldest)
Jan	68.6	76 on the 19th	45.1	38 on the 12th	56.8 /+0.4	Tied 16th
Feb	70.9	82 on the 20th	47.0	35 on the 4th & 5th	58.9 /-0.8	Tied 44th
Mar	74.5	86 on the 6th	54.3	47 on the 28th	64.4 /-0.8	39th
Apr	87.4	104 on the 29th	61.1	52 on the 12th	74.2 /+1.5	Tied 18th
May	99.7	112 on the 29th	72.7	63 on the 20th	86.2 /+4.1	4th
Jun	105.0	112 on the 4th	79.1	72 on the 10th	92.0 /+1.2	Tied 21st
Jul	109.8	118 on the 30th	88.0	76 on the 1st	98.9 /+4.1	1st
Aug	110.7	117 on the 14th	87.4	77 on the 30th	99.1 /+5.5	1st
Sep	104.1	115 on the 5th	79.0	69 on the 10th	91.5 /+3.1	Tied 3rd
Oct	95.0	107 on the 1st	66.8	48 on the 28th	80.9 /+4.2	Tied 4th
Nov	80.5	99 on the 5th	55.0	44 on the 28th & 29th	67.8 /+3.8	6th
Dec	67.9	80 on the 7th & 9th	43.7	38 on the 24th	55.8 /+0.4	Tied 33rd

(*** click on month for more comprehensive monthly summary ***)

Record Highs Set in 2020

Date	Record	Previous Record
Apr 26	102	101 in 1992
May 6	106 - tied record	106 in 2018
May 29	112 - tied record	112 in 1910
Jul 12	116	115 in 2009
Jul 13	114 - tied record	110 in 2005
Jul 29	115 - tied record	115 in 1995
Jul 30	118	115 in 1934
Jul 31	116	115 in 1996
Aug 3	114 - tied record	114 in 2019
Aug 13	115 - tied record	115 in 2012
Aug 14	117 - tied record	117 in 2015
Aug 16	115	113 in 2013
Aug 17	115	114 in 2013
Aug 18	115	112 in 2011
Aug 19	115	113 in 1986
Aug 24	115 - tied record	115 in 1985
Aug 27	113 - tied record	113 in 2009
Sep 4	114	112 in 2019
Sep 5	115	113 in 1945
Sep 6	113	111 in 2013
Sep 16	109 - tied record	109 in 1928
Sep 17	109 - tied record	109 in 1962
Oct 1	107 - tied record	107 in 1980
Oct 3	105 - tied record	105 in 1988
Oct 4	105	103 in 1993
Oct 5	105	104 in 1987
Oct 14	100 - tied record	100 in 2015
Oct 16	102	101 in 1991
Nov 1	96 - tied record	96 in 1924
Nov 5	99	93 in 2007
Nov 16	92	89 in 1999
Nov 17	92	87 in 2008
Nov 18	89	88 in 2008

No Record Lows were set in 2020

Yuma Annual Temperature Rankings (Warmest Years)

Year	Avg Daily Temp
2017	77.5
2016	77.2
2008	77.1
1996	77.0
1995	76.8
1981	76.8
2012	76.6
2018	76.4
1989	76.5
1958	76.2

Year	Avg Max Temp
1981	91.0
1950	91.0
1958	90.6
1989	90.5
1954	90.5
1959	90.2
1962	90.1
1960	90.1
2008	90.1
2017	90.0

Year	Avg Min Temp
2017	64.9
2016	64.7
1996	64.4
2008	64.2
2005	64.2
2003	64.2
2018	64.1
2004	64.0
1997	63.9
1995	63.9

	Avg Max Temp	Highest Temp	Avg Min Temp	Lowest Temp	Avg Temp	Rank (1=Warmest, 143=Coldest)
Jan	71.3	78 on the 25th & 28th	46.2	39 on the 2nd & 8th	58.8 /+0.2	Tied 28th
Feb	73.5	81 on the 21st & 29th	49.2	40 on the 6th & 12th	61.4 /-0.5	45th
Mar	73.8	85 on the 6th	53.3	47 on the 27th & 28th	63.5 /-3.7	96th
Apr	86.5	104 on the 26th	59.7	50 on the 9th & 11th	73.1 / +0.1	Tied 42nd
May	98.7	108 on the 28th & 29th	68.9	59 on the 20th	83.8 /+2.5	7th
Jun	102.9	110 on the 3rd & 4th	73.5	62 on the 9th	88.2 /-0.8	Tied 41st
Jul	109.5	115 on the 30th & 31st	81.3	76 on the 25th	95.4 /+0.9	16th
Aug	110.5	116 on the 24th	84.6	75 on the 7th	97.5 /+3.2	2nd
Sep	105.2	120 on the 5th	76.7	68 on the 12th	91.0 /+2.0	10th
Oct	96.0	108 on the 1st	66.5	48 on the 28th	81.3 /+3.8	7th
Nov	Missing	Missing	53.7	44 on the 11th	M /M	Missing
Dec	69.3	78 on the 21st	45.7	41 on the 4th & 18th	57.5 /+0.1	Tied 47th

(*** click on month for more comprehensive monthly summary ***)

Record Highs Set in 2020

Date	Record	Previous Record
Apr 26	104 - tied record	104 in 2004
Aug 17	114 - tied record	114 in 1992
Aug 26	115	113 in 2017
Sep 5	120	115 in 1945
Sep 6	115	113 in 1986
Sep 16	111 - tied record	111 in 2013

No Record Lows were set in 2020

El Centro Annual Temperature Rankings (Warmest Years)

Year	Avg Daily Temp
2016	76.1
2017	75.8
2014	75.6
2018	75.5
2015	75.4
2020	74.9
1986	74.9
2012	74.6
2006	74.4
2009	74.3

Year	Avg Max Temp
1934	91.7
2016	91.0
2017	90.4
2014	90.3
2020	90.1
2018	90.0
2015	89.8
2012	89.6
2009	89.6
1962	89.6

Year	Avg Min Temp
2017	61.3
2016	61.2
2015	61.1
2018	61.0
2014	60.8
1983	60.8
1984	60.5
1986	60.4
1959	60.3
2020	59.8

	Avg Max Temp	Highest Temp	Avg Min Temp	Lowest Temp	Avg Temp	Rank (1=Warmest, 95=Coldest)
Jan	71.7	78 on the 27th & 28th	42.2	35 on the 11th	57.0 /+1.7	21st
Feb	75.1	84 on the 29th	46.2	32 on the 5th	60.7 /+1.7	27th
Mar	73.5	86 on the 6th	50.9	44 on the 3rd	62.2 /-2.3	64th
Apr	86.7	105 on the 26th	57.5	46 on the 9th	72.1 / +2.0	Tied 32nd
May	98.5	108 on the 27th & 28th	66.7	55 on the 20th	82.6 /+4.0	Tied 4th
Jun	102.3	111 on the 4th	70.2	56 on the 9th	86.3 /+0.0	41st
Jul	110.2	119 on the 31st	77.7	71 on the 2nd	94.0 /+1.8	Tied 16th
Aug	111.1	117 on the 14th	82.2	70 on the 7th & 10th	96.6 /+4.1	2nd
Sep	105.8	121 on the 5th	72.1	60 on the 10th	89.0 /+2.9	Tied 11th
Oct	95.7	108 on the 1st & 2nd	62.8	44 on the 28th	79.2 /+4.9	7th
Nov	79.9	95 on the 5th	49.2	38 on the 28th	64.6 /+1.9	Tied 25th
Dec	70.3	78 on the 1st	39.8	34 on the 5th	55.0 /+0.5	Tied 50th

(*** click on month for more comprehensive monthly summary ***)

Record Highs Set in 2020

Date	Record	Previous Record
Apr 26	105	103 in 1996
Apr 27	102	101 in 1992
May 6	106 - tied record	106 in 2018
May 7	106 - tied record	106 in 1963
Jul 31	119	118 in 1934
Aug 13	116 - tied record	116 in 2012
Aug 14	117	116 in 2015
Aug 17	115 - tied record	115 in 2015
Aug 18	115 - tied record	115 in 2015
Aug 19	115	114 in 2010
Sep 5	121	114 in 1945
Sep 6	118	114 in 1934
Sep 7	113	112 in 2019
Sep 16	110 - tied record	110 in 2013
Sep 30	108 - tied record	108 in 2015
Oct 2	108 - tied record	108 in 2012
Oct 5	106 - tied record	106 in 1987
Oct 14	104	103 in 1991
Nov 4	94	93 in 2010
Nov 5	95	93 in 2012

Record Lows Set in 2020

Date	Record	Previous Record
Jun 9	56 - tied record	56 in 1998

Arizona Statewide Temperature Maps (Data courtesy of Western Region Climate Center)

Arizona 2020 Average Maximum Temperature	Arizona 2020 Maximum Temp Departure from normal
Arizona 2020 Average Minimum Temperature	Arizona 2020 Minimum Temp Departure from normal
Arizona 2020 Average Temperature	Arizona 2020 Average Temp Departure from normal

California Statewide Temperature Maps (Data courtesy of Western Region Climate Center)

California 2020 Average Maximum Temperature	California 2020 Maximum Temp Departure from normal
California 2020 Average Minimum Temperature	California 2020 Minimum Temp Departure from normal
California 2020 Average Temperature	California 2020 Average Temp Departure from normal

2020 Phoenix Precipitation Statistics

	Precip Total	Departure	Rank (1=Wettest, 125=Driest)
Jan	0.19	-0.72	92nd
Feb	1.34	+0.42	22nd
Mar	1.94	+0.95	Tied 10th
Apr	0.08	-0.20	70th
May	Trace	-0.10	Tied 125th
Jun	Trace	-0.02	Tied 125th
Jul	0.10	-0.95	116th
Aug	0.90	-0.10	57th
Sep	Trace	-0.64	Tied 125th
Oct	0.00	-0.58	Tied 125th
Nov	Trace	-0.65	Tied 125th
Dec	0.45	-0.43	Tied 56th

(*** click on month for more comprehensive monthly summary ***)

Phoenix Record Daily Rainfall for 2020

Date	Record	Previous Record
Feb 22	1.04	0.45 in 1913

2020 Yuma Precipitation Statistics

	Precip Total	Departure	Rank (1=Wettest, 143=Driest)
Jan	0.06	-0.31	87th
Feb	0.90	+0.51	19th
Mar	2.70	+2.37	2nd
Apr	0.30	+0.15	19th
May	0.00	-0.08	Tied 143rd
Jun	0.00	-0.01	Tied 143rd
Jul	0.00	-0.29	Tied 143rd
Aug	0.00	-0.47	Tied 143rd
Sep	0.00	-0.53	Tied 143rd
Oct	0.00	-0.21	Tied 143rd
Nov	Trace	-0.22	Tied 143rd
Dec	0.19	-0.32	Tied 69th

(*** click on month for more comprehensive monthly summary ***)

Yuma Record Daily Rainfall for 2020

Date	Record	Previous Record
Mar 10	1.15	0.13 in 1986
Mar 12	0.84	0.33 in 2019
Mar 18	0.45	0.17 in 1982
Apr 10	0.17	0.16 in 2016

2020 El Centro Precipitation Statistics

	Precip Total	Departure	Rank (1=Wettest, 95=Driest)
Jan	Trace	-0.48	Tied 95th
Feb	0.42	-0.03	32nd
Mar	1.51	+1.15	3rd
Apr	0.58	+0.51	7th
May	0.00	-0.07	Tied 95th
Jun	0.00	-0.03	Tied 95th
Jul	0.00	-0.19	Tied 95th
Aug	Trace	-0.41	Tied 95th
Sep	0.00	-0.31	Tied 95th
Oct	0.00	-0.33	Tied 95th
Nov	Trace	-0.20	Tied 95th
Dec	Trace	-0.54	Tied 95th

(*** click on month for more comprehensive monthly summary ***)

El Centro Record Daily Rainfall for 2020

Date	Record	Previous Record
Mar 9	0.14	0.13 in 1974
Mar 10	0.95	0.39 in 1980
Mar 12	0.31	0.05 in 1982
Mar 18	0.08 - tied record	0.08 in 1930
Apr 10	0.50	0.05 in 2016

Arizona Statewide Precipitation Maps (Data courtesy of Western Region Climate Center)

Arizona 2020

Precipitation

Arizona 2020 Precip Departure from normal

Arizona 2020 Precip Percent Normal

California Statewide Precipitation Maps (Data courtesy of Western Region Climate Center)

California 2020

Precipitation

California 2020 Precip Departure from normal

California 2020 Precip Percent Normal

CLIMATE REPORT 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
245 PM MST SAT JAN 02 2021

...................................

...THE PHOENIX AZ CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE YEAR OF 2020...

CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1981 TO 2010
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1895 TO 2021

WEATHER         OBSERVED          NORMAL  DEPART   LAST YEAR'S         
                VALUE   DATE(S)   VALUE   FROM     VALUE               
                                          NORMAL                       
..............................................................
TEMPERATURE (F)
RECORD
 HIGH            122   06/26/1990                                      
 LOW              16   01/07/1913                                      
HIGHEST          118   07/30        114       4                        
LOWEST            35   02/04         35       0                        
                       02/05                                           
AVG. MAXIMUM    89.5               86.7     2.8                        
AVG. MINIMUM    64.9               63.5     1.4                        
MEAN            77.2               75.1     2.1                        
DAYS MAX >= 90   191              169.0    22.0                        
DAYS MAX <= 32     0                0.0     0.0                        
DAYS MAX >= 100  145                                                   
DAYS MAX >= 110   53                                                   
DAYS MIN <= 32     0                0.4    -0.4                        
DAYS MIN <= 0      0                0.0     0.0                        
DAYS MIN >= 90    28                                                   

PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
RECORD
 MAXIMUM       19.73   1905                                            
 MINIMUM        2.82   2002                                            
TOTALS          5.00               8.03   -3.03                        
DAYS >= .01       15               36.6   -21.6                        
DAYS >= .10       11               18.7    -7.7                        
DAYS >= .50        3                4.5    -1.5                        
DAYS >= 1.00       1                1.3    -0.3                        
GREATEST
 24 HR. TOTAL   1.04   02/22 TO 02/22                                  


DEGREE DAYS
HEATING TOTAL    841                935     -94                        
 SINCE 7/1       367                397     -30                        
COOLING TOTAL   5419               4608     811                        
 SINCE 1/1      5419               4607     812                        
..............................................................

WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED              6.2                                    
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION    59/090    DATE  08/17                  

AVERAGE RH (PERCENT)     30                                            

WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH 
THUNDERSTORM             11     HEAVY RAIN                 4           
RAIN                      8     LIGHT RAIN                22           
FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE     0                                           

-  INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R  INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T  INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.

CLIMATE REPORT 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
245 PM MST SAT JAN 02 2021

...................................

...THE YUMA AZ CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE YEAR OF 2020...

CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1981 TO 2010
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1876 TO 2021

WEATHER         OBSERVED          NORMAL  DEPART   LAST YEAR'S         
                VALUE   DATE(S)   VALUE   FROM     VALUE               
                                          NORMAL                       
..............................................................
TEMPERATURE (F)
RECORD
 HIGH            124   07/28/1995                                      
 LOW              22   01/24/1937                                      
                       12/26/1911                                      
                       01/20/1883                                      
HIGHEST          120   09/05        115       5                        
LOWEST            39   01/02         36       3                        
                       01/08                                           
                       12/31                                           
AVG. MAXIMUM      MM               88.3      MM                        
AVG. MINIMUM    63.3               63.4    -0.1                        
MEAN              MM               75.9      MM                        
DAYS MAX >= 90    MM              174.8      MM                        
DAYS MAX <= 32     0                0.0     0.0                        
DAYS MAX >= 100   MM                                                   
DAYS MAX >= 110   MM                                                   
DAYS MIN <= 32     0                0.1    -0.1                        
DAYS MIN <= 0      0                0.0     0.0                        
DAYS MIN >= 90    MM                                                   

PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
RECORD
 MAXIMUM       11.41   1905                                            
 MINIMUM        0.03   2002                                            
TOTALS          4.15               3.56    0.59                        
DAYS >= .01       13               17.4    -4.4                        
DAYS >= .10       10                8.6     1.4                        
DAYS >= .50        3                1.9     1.1                        
DAYS >= 1.00       1                0.5     0.5                        
GREATEST
 24 HR. TOTAL     MM                                                   


DEGREE DAYS
HEATING TOTAL     MM                687      MM                        
 SINCE 7/1        MM                300      MM                        
COOLING TOTAL     MM               4650      MM                        
 SINCE 1/1        MM               4651      MM                        
..............................................................

WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED              6.7                                    
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION    45/250    DATE  04/08                  

AVERAGE RH (PERCENT)     35                                            

WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH 
THUNDERSTORM              7     HEAVY RAIN                 2           
RAIN                      4     LIGHT RAIN                15           
FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE     2                                            

-  INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R  INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T  INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.

CLIMATE REPORT 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
245 PM MST SAT JAN 02 2021

...................................

...THE IMPERIAL CA CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE YEAR OF 2020...

CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1981 TO 2010
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1925 TO 2021

WEATHER         OBSERVED          NORMAL  DEPART   LAST YEAR'S         
                VALUE   DATE(S)   VALUE   FROM     VALUE               
                                          NORMAL                       
..............................................................
TEMPERATURE (F)
RECORD
 HIGH            122   06/20/2017                                              
 LOW              16   01/22/1937                                      
HIGHEST          121   09/05        116       5                        
LOWEST            32   02/05         31       1                        
AVG. MAXIMUM    90.1               88.1     2.0                        
AVG. MINIMUM    59.8               57.9     1.9                        
MEAN            74.9               73.0     1.9                        
DAYS MAX >= 90   187              175.0    12.0                        
DAYS MAX <= 32     0                0.0     0.0                        
DAYS MAX >= 100  144                                                   
DAYS MAX >= 110   47                                                   
DAYS MIN <= 32     1                3.8    -2.8                        
DAYS MIN <= 0      0                0.0     0.0                        
DAYS MIN >= 90     1                                                   

PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
RECORD
 MAXIMUM        5.72   1983                                            
 MINIMUM        0.16   1956                                           
TOTALS          2.51               3.44   -0.93                        
DAYS >= .01        8               16.0    -8.0                        
DAYS >= .10        5                7.0    -2.0                        
DAYS >= .50        2                2.0     0.0                        
DAYS >= 1.00       0                0.0     0.0                        
GREATEST
 24 HR. TOTAL   0.95   03/10 TO 03/10                                  


DEGREE DAYS
HEATING TOTAL    896               1029    -133                        
 SINCE 7/1       410                452     -42                        
COOLING TOTAL   4649               3977     672                        
 SINCE 1/1      4649               3977     672                        
..............................................................

WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED              6.6                                    
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION    51/260    DATE  11/07                  

AVERAGE RH (PERCENT)     36                                            

WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH 
THUNDERSTORM              5     HEAVY RAIN                 2           
RAIN                      5     LIGHT RAIN                13           
FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE     3                                            

-  INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R  INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T  INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.