Tucson monthly climate reports for 2022

The new year began on a wet note when a winter storm impacted the area as the calendar turned from 2021 to 2022. The combined two-day rainfall totals for New Year's Eve/Day across the metro area ranged from 0.50" to 1.50" with the bulk of the rain occurring on New Year's Eve. The airport two-day total of 0.74" ranks as the 3rd wettest New Year's Eve/Day on record. And for only the 9th time since 1895, rainfall was recorded on both New Year's Eve & Day with the most recent being in 2018-19 & 2016-17.

The monthly average temperature of 54.3° is seven-tenths of a degree above normal and ranks as the 17th warmest January on record. Temperature extremes for the month ranged from a high of 77° on the 7th to a low of 31° on the 2nd. This is the 3rd straight January in which the monthly low temperature, recorded at the airport, was NOT colder than 30°.

Rainfall amounts across the metro area, using several sources like rainlog.org, the Pima County Regional Flood Control District gages and CoCoRaHS, were mostly below a third of an inch /0.33"/. However there were isolated spots that recorded up to a three-quarters of an inch /0.75"/. The International airport, which is the official recording spot in Tucson, recorded 0.28" which is over a half an inch below normal and ranks as the 38th driest January on record, tied with 1929.

One month remains in climatological Winter and so far it has been warmer (55.7° or +2.3°) and slightly drier (1.62" or -0.18") than normal.

The Climate Prediction Center forecasts a 47% chance of above normal temperatures and a 45% chance of below normal precipitation.

The February outlook for the area, issued by the Climate Prediction Center on January 31st, called for a 47% chance that temperatures would be above normal & 20% chance that temperatures would be below normal. On the precipitation side, the forecast leaned toward below normal at a 45% chance. The forecast panned out well for precipitation as it was drier than normal while February came in cooler than normal thanks to the average monthly low temperature being 4.7° below normal.

The monthly average temperature of 54.3° is almost two degrees below normal and ranks as the 59th warmest February on record. This is the third February in the last four years that the average monthly temperature was below normal. It's also the ninth time February this century that the average monthly temperature was below normal. This is the most of any calendar month thus far in the 21st century. Temperature extremes for the month ranged from a high of 83° on the 14th to a low of 26° on the 3rd.

The Winter seasonal forecast for the area, issued November 18th, called for a 41% chance of above normal temperatures & a 48% chance of below normal precipitation. The forecast panned out well with Winter 2021-2022 coming in warmer and drier than normal.

The seasonal average temperature of 55.3° goes into the record books as the 13th warmest on record, tied with Winter 1942-1943 & last winter. Temperature extremes ranged from a high of 85° on December 1st to a low of 26° on February 3rd. There were five days that recorded freezing low temperatures at the airport which is up from the three that occurred in the previous winter but down five from the 1991-2020 normal period. Additionally, there were five record temperatures that were either set or tied. Two were for record highs and three were for record warm low temperatures and all of them occurred in December.

Precipitation across the metro area, using several sources like rainlog.org, the Pima County Regional Flood Control District gages and CoCoRaHS, ranged from 1.75" to 4.00" with the highest totals occurring north of Tangerine Road extending east from Dove Mountain in Marana to the northern part of Oro Valley. Officially the Tucson International airport recorded 1.82", which is around eight-tenths of an inch below normal and ranks as the 48th driest Winter season on record.

The average yearly temperature of 54.3° is six-tenths of a degree BELOW normal and ranks as the 31st warmest on record through the end of February.

Rainfall at the Tucson International airport, the official location in Tucson, of 0.48" is 1.20" BELOW normal and ranks as the 17th driest January/February period on record.

Here are some temperature highlights for the month:

• The 4th warmest March high temperature on record, tied with three other March dates, occurred on the 26th when the high was 95°. The previous 95° March highs occurred on March 18 & 19 in 1907 and on March 16, 2007. The all-time warmest March high temperature is 99° which occurred on March 26, 1988.
• The high of 95° on the 26th ranks as the 5th earliest calendar occurrence on record, tied with 1988. Normal date is April 24th.
• There were four days in which the low temperature was 35° or colder. This total is equal to the number of times this has occurred in the previous EIGHT Marches combined (2014-2021).
• The three consecutive days with lows of 35° or colder (35° on 7th; 33° on 8th & 35° on 9th) is the most since 2007 when there was 4th consecutive such days.
• March 2022 joins three other Marches (1895, 1896 & 2007) that recorded three or more days of 90°+ highs and four or more days with low temperatures of 35° or colder.
• A 31 degree drop in high temperatures over a three day period occurred between the 95° on the 26th and 64° on the 29th. This is the first time that there was a 30°+ drop in high temperatures over a three day span in March since 2012 (85° to 50°) and the 7th such March occurrence since 1895.
• First March since 2011 that no temperature records were set or tied.

The monthly average temperature of 61.7° is two-tenths of a degree below normal and ranks as the 24th warmest March on record, tied with 2019. Temperature extremes for the month ranged from a high of 95° on the 26th to a low of 33° on the 8th.

Rainfall occurred across the metro area over three time periods during the month. On the 6th, the 20th & 21st and the 28th & 29th.

• 6th: A moisture starved cold front pushed across the area bringing sprinkles to the valley and flurries to the nearly by mountain peaks.
• 20th & 21st: A weather system passing through the area, on the first two days of Spring, brought scattered valley rain & high elevation snow showers, gusty winds and a few claps of thunder. Rainfall amounts were mostly less than a quarter of an inch, with isolated areas recording up to a half inch.
• 28th & 29th: A stronger, colder system passing through the area brought widespread showers, a few thunderstorms, pea size hail, gusty winds & high elevation snow showers. Rainfall amounts were mostly less than a third of ain inch with isolated area recording up to three-quarters of an inch.

Rainfall amounts across the metro area, using several sources like rainlog.org, the Pima County Regional Flood Control District gages and CoCoRaHS, ranged widely from 0.10" to 0.75 ". The International airport, which is the official recording spot in Tucson, recorded 0.19" which ranks as the 29th driest March on record, tied with 1949 & 1966. Additionally the airport monthly total extended the streak of below normal rainfall for March to "18" straight. The last March to record above normal rainfall was in 2004 when 1.12" was recorded.

The average yearly temperature of 56.8° is six-tenths of a degree BELOW normal and ranks as the 27th warmest on record through the end of March. The average yearly temperature is below normal for the calendar year through the end of March for the first time since 2017 and the fourth time this century (2001 & 2013). Thanks to the new warmer 30-year climate normals, which went into effect last year, the average yearly temperature this year through the end of March is below normal although it was warmer than two years ago (56.8° vs 56.5°). For comparison through the end of March, the current climate normal period (1991-2020) average temperature is 57.4° while the previous climate normal period (1981-2010) average temperature was 56.1°. The 1981-2010 climate normal period was used from the late 2011 to early 2021.

Rainfall at the Tucson International airport, the official location in Tucson, of 0.67" is 1.57" BELOW normal & ranks as the 14th driest January through March period on record. The water year rainfall is at the half-way mark with a paltry 2.03" being recorded. This ranks as the 16th driest first half of the water year period on record. For only the third time since 1910, no temperature records were set during the first three months of the year. The previous two occurrences were in 1984 & 2010.

The Climate Prediction Center forecasts for temperature a 57% chance that they will end up above normal and a 10% chance that they will end up below normal. The forecast for precipitation is a 49% chance that they will be up below normal and a 18% chance that they will end up above normal.

The monthly average temperature of 71.8° is just under four degrees above normal and ranks as the 4th warmest April on record. Temperature extremes for the month ranged from a high of 100° on the 26th to a low of 39° on the 13th. Three temperature records (one high & two warm lows) were set or tied. These were the first record temperatures set/tied in 2022. The last year in which Tucson waited until April to set/tied a record temperature was back in 2010.

No rain was recorded across the metro area, using several sources like rainlog.org, the Pima County Regional Flood Control District gages and CoCoRaHS. The zero rainfall recorded at the International airport, which is the official recording spot in Tucson, marked the 30th time since 1895 that no measurable rain was recorded at the official site. It's the 13th April with ZERO rainfall. Additionally this is the fifteenth April in the past seventeen that the airport recorded below normal rainfall.

The average yearly temperature of 60.6° is a half of a degree ABOVE normal and ranks as the 12th warmest on record, tied with 1996, through the end of April. Rainfall at the Tucson International airport, the official location in Tucson, of 0.67" is 1.81" BELOW normal & ranks as the 9th driest January through April period on record. The water year rainfall total 2.03" ranks as the 9th driest on record.

The Climate Prediction Center forecasts for temperature a 48% chance that they will end up above normal and a 19% chance that they will end up below normal. The forecast for precipitation is a 33% chance that they will be up below normal and a 33% chance that they will end up above normal.

The Spring seasonal forecast for the area, issued February 17th, called for a 46% chance of above normal temperatures & a 42% chance of below normal precipitation. The forecast panned out well with Spring 2022 coming in warmer and drier than normal.

The seasonal average temperature of 71.0° goes into the record books as the 5th warmest Spring on record. Temperature extremes ranged from a high of 105° on May 15th to a low of 33° on March 8th. There were six days of triple digit high temperatures which is slightly above normal.

The average wind speed was 8.1 mph which is slightly below the average was 8.2 mph. The seasonal average dew point value was 19°. This is tied with 2008 for the lowest Spring average dating back to 1946.

Rainfall amounts across the metro area, using several sources like rainlog.org, the Pima County Regional Flood Control District gages and CoCoRaHS, were mostly below a half an inch (0.50") with a localized spots, especially in the foothills, recording up to nine-tenths of an inch (0.90"). The International airport, which is the official recording spot in Tucson, recorded only 0.19". This ranks as the 11th driest Spring on record. Spring ended on a streak of 63 consecutive days with no rain being recorded at the International airport.

2022

The average yearly temperature, through the end of May, of 64.4° is 0.9° above normal and ranks as the 10th warmest on record, tied with 2000. Rainfall at the Tucson International airport, the official location in Tucson, of two-thirds of an inch (0.67") is two inches below normal and ranks as the 9th driest January through May period on record. The water year is well below normal since October 1st at 2.03" which ranks as the 8th driest water year to date with four months left in the water year calendar. The drought classification for the area degraded to D2 (Severe Drought) during May.

The monthly average temperature of 89.1° is 3.0° ABOVE normal and ranks as the 5th warmest June on record. Temperature extremes for the month ranged from a high of 111° on the 16th to a low of 66° on the 5th. This is the 7th June on record in which the monthly low temperature did not fall below 65°. Five record high minimum (low) temperatures were set or tied during the month. During the first 16 days of the month, no below normal highs were recorded. Over the last 14 days there was only one day that was above normal. There were nine daily lows that were 80° or warmer. This ties the monthly record previously set in 2017.

Rainfall amounts across the metro area, using several sources like rainlog.org, the Pima County Regional Flood Control District gages and CoCoRaHS, were mostly below a third of an inch (0.33") with isolated spots recording up to 1.00". The International airport, which is the official recording spot in Tucson, recorded 0.23" which ranks as the 38th wettest June on record, tied with 1980.

The average yearly temperature, through the end of June, of 68.5° is 1.3° above normal and ranks as the 7th warmest on record. Rainfall at the Tucson International airport, the official location in Tucson, of 0.90" is just over 2" below normal and ranks as the 7th driest January through June period on record. The water year is well below normal since October 1st at 2.26" which ranks as the 9th driest water year to date with three months left in the water year calendar. The drought classification for the area stood at D2 (Severe Drought).

The Climate Prediction Center forecasts for temperature a 36% chance that they will end up above normal and a 31% chance that they will end up below normal. The forecast for precipitation is a 45% chance that they will be above normal and a 22% chance that they will end up below normal.

The monthly average temperature of 90.0° is 1.8° ABOVE normal and ranks as 7th warmest July on record and 9th warmest calendar month on record. Temperature extremes ranged from a high of 110° on the 11th to a low of 70° on the 31st. Two of the warmest low temperatures on record occurred during the month. The low on the 12th of 88° ranks as the 3rd warmest low temperature on record while the low on the 22nd of 87° ranking as the 5th warmest low temperature on record.

Rainfall amounts across the metro area, using several sources like rainlog.org, the Pima County Regional Flood Control District gages and CoCoRaHS, ranged from 1" to 6". 

Monsoon 2022 is currently well below normal through the end of July with 1.31" being recorded at the Tucson International airport. This ranks as the 28th driest on record for the first 47 days of the monsoon. Rainfall totals across the Tucson metro area for the season so far ranged widely from 1" to 6" with localized spots mainly near the mountains up to 9".

The average yearly temperature, through the end of July, of 71.7° is 1.4° above normal and ranks as the 5th warmest on record. Rainfall at the Tucson International airport, the official location in Tucson, of 1.98" is a little over three inches below normal and ranks as the 4th driest January through July period on record. The water year is well below normal since October 1st at 3.34" which ranks as the 4th driest water year to date with two months left in the water year calendar.

The Climate Prediction Center forecasts for temperature a 42% chance that they will end up below normal and a 25% chance that they will end up above normal. The forecast for precipitation is a 46% chance that they will be above normal and a 21% chance that they will end up below normal.

The metro area for most of the month remained under a favorable monsoon flow pattern that brought daily round of showers and thunderstorms which produced strong gusty winds, heavy rain and flash flooding. One of the strongest thunderstorms of the month hit the airport on the evening of the 23rd with a wind gust of 76 mph. This is the highest wind gust, tied with August 11, 1995, to be recorded at the airport in the past 50 years. The deep monsoonal moisture that was over the area for most of the month started to dry out during the last week of the month under a drier upper air pattern.

The monthly average temperature of 85.8° is 1.1° BELOW normal ranks as the 38th warmest August on record. Combined with last years August average temperature being 1.2° below normal, this is the first back-to-back Augusts since 2005-06 to be below normal. Temperature extremes for the month ranged from a high of 104° on the 6th and 30th to a low of 70° on the 23rd. There were only seven days that recorded triple digit highs, which is eight days below the normal of 15 days for August. The number could've been higher as there were eight days that recorded a high of 99°. For an oddity record, the eight days with a high of 99° is the most on record for the month of August & any calendar month dating back to 1895. One temperature record was set during the month when the high of 85° on the 19th set a daily cool high record, besting the old record of 86° from 1966. The high temperature of 82° on the 20th marked the first August since 2007 that recorded back-to-back days with highs in the 80's.

Rainfall amounts, using several sources like rainlog.org, the Pima County Regional Flood Control District gages and CoCoRaHS, varied widely across the metro area which is always the case during the summer thunderstorm season. Amounts ranged from 1.00" to 4.50" with localized amounts up to 6.50". The International airport, which is the official recording spot in Tucson, recorded 2.82" which is just over eight-tenths of an inch above normal and ranks as the 34th wettest August on record. Combined with last years August total of 3.85", this is the first back-to-back Augusts since 2005-06 to be above normal.

Backed by the 5th warmest June and 7th warmest July and the warmest Summer average low temperature on record (tied with 2020), Summer 2022 goes into the record books as the 3rd warmest Summer on record, tied with the Summers of 2013, 2015 & 2019. The average Summer temperature of 88.3° is 1.2° above normal and is well shy of the two warmest Summers on record (90.0° in 2020 & 89.9° in 1994).

Temperature extremes ranged from a high of 111° on June 16th to a low of 66° on June 5th. For the first Summer since 2010 & the sixth time since 1980, there were no record highs set or tied at the airport. There were 23 days in which the daily low temperature was in the 80s. This is the 2nd most number of days during Summer on record but well behind the record of 33 days set in 2020.

As is usually the case during the summer thunderstorm season rainfall amounts, using several sources like rainlog.org, the Pima County Regional Flood Control District gages and CoCoRaHS, ranged widely from 3.00" to 9.00" with localized amounts between 9" and 11" along the lower elevations of the Catalina and Rincon mountains. The International airport, which is the official recording spot in Tucson, recorded 4.13" which ranks as the 52nd driest Summer on record.

The average yearly temperature, through the end of August, of 73.5° is 1.0° above normal and ranks as the 6th warmest on record. Rainfall at the Tucson International airport, the official location in Tucson, of 4.80" is just under two & a third inches below normal and ranks as the 19th driest January through August period on record. The water year is below normal since October 1st at 6.16" which ranks as the 17th driest water year to date with one month left in the water year calendar.

The Climate Prediction Center forecasts for temperature a 35% chance that they will end up above normal and a 32% chance that they will end up below normal. The forecast for precipitation is a 36% chance that they will be above normal and a 31% chance that they will end up below normal.

September records more triple digit high temperatures than August

Heading into the last month of the 2022 Monsoon the September monthly outlook, issued by the Climate Prediction Center, called for "leaning above normal" for precipitation and temperature.

The first eight days of the month were on the quiet side before turning active between the 9th and 13th thanks to deeper tropical moisture moving across the area from Hurricance Kay, which moved northwest off the Baja Coast. This led to isolated areas of heavy rain and flash flooding along with hail. Another quiet period followed through the 18th before returning to the daily threat of showers and thunderstorms as moisture lingered across the area through the end of the month. Severe thunderstorms hit portions on the metro area on the 21st and 26th.

The monthly average temperature of 84.7° is just under 2° above normal and ranks as the 4th warmest September on record, tied with 2010. The average monthly low temperature of 72.4° established a new monthly record, eclipsing the old record of 72.3° from 2018. Temperature extremes for the month ranged from a high of 103° on the 6th to a low of 65° on the 17th. One record temperature was set during the month. A high minimum temperature of 75° on the 27th set a new daily record, eclipsing the old record of 73° from 1963 & 1989. For the first time since 2010, September recorded more triple digit high temperatures (8) than August did (7).

Rainfall amounts, using several sources like rainlog.org, the Pima County Regional Flood Control District gages and CoCoRaHS, varied widely across the metro area with totals ranging from 0.20" to 1.75" with localized higher amounts to 2.50". The International airport, which is the official recording spot in Tucson, recorded only 0.81" which is around a half an inch below normal and ranks as the 53rd driest September on record, tied with 1949.

Monsoon 2022 ended up warmer than normal with an average season temperature of 87.2° which is nine-tenths of a degree above normal. This ranks as the 5th warmest monsoon on record, tied with 2011. Temperature extremes ranged from 111° on June 16th to 65° on September 17th.

Rainfall amounts, using several sources like rainlog.org, the Pima County Regional Flood Control District gages and CoCoRaHS, varied widely across the metro area as is usually the case during the summer thunderstorm season. Amounts ranged from 3" to 8" with localized higher amounts up to 12". The Tucson International airport, the official recording location in Tucson, recorded 4.94" which ranks as the 46th driest monsoon on record. Click on the image to the right to see how 2022 compared to the historical record.

The average yearly temperature, through the end of September, of 74.7° is 1.1° above normal and ranks as the 6th warmest on record, tied with 2016.

Rainfall amounts, using several sources like rainlog.org, the Pima County Regional Flood Control District gages and CoCoRaHS, has varied widely across the metro area. Amounts ranged from 4" to 9" with localized higher amounts up to 14". The International airport, which is the official recording spot in Tucson, has recorded 5.61" is just under 3" below normal and ranks as the 13th driest January to September on record.

The 2021-22 water year ended up on the dry side with 6.97" being reported at the airport. This ranks as the 11th driest water year period (October 1st to September 30th) on record. This is in sharp contrast to the previous water year which was rather wet with the airport recording 14.23". Rainfall totals across the metro area ranged from 4" to 10" with localized higher amounts up to 15".

The Climate Prediction Center forecasts for temperature a 43% chance that they will end up above normal and a 24% chance that they will end up below normal. The forecast for precipitation is a 33% chance that they will be above normal and a 33% chance that they will end up below normal.

Above normal moisture values for early October combined with several atmospheric disturbances moving across the area produced isolated to scattered showers or thunderstorms on a daily basis during the first ten days of the month. Some of the storms produced heavy rain, especially on the 4th, 5th, 6th & 8th.

Dry conditions prevailed from the 11th to the 14th before an upper level low moved across the area bringing scattered showers, isolated thunderstorms and small hail on the 15th & 16th. Dry and warmer temperatures were on tap from the 17th to the 22nd.

Scattered light showers and high elevation mountain snow occurred on the evening of the 23rd and the morning of the 24th were associated with a passing cold front. This cold front brought a cooler air mass with morning lows on the 25th being in the upper 30's to mid 40's.

The last seven days of the month was dry with below normal high and low temperatures.

The monthly average temperature of 71.4° is 1.2° BELOW normal and ranks as the 40th warmest October on record. This is the second consecutive October to be below normal. The last time back-to-back Octobers' were BELOW normal was back in the 1980's when there was a string of SEVEN straight BELOW normal Octobers' from 1980 to 1986. Temperature extremes for the month ranged from a high 94° on the 3rd to a low of 43° on the 25th. Two daily record temperatures were set during the month. A record warm low temperature was set on the 22nd with a low of 66° breaking the record of 64° from 2016. A record cool high temperature was set on the 24th with a high of 67° breaking the record of 68° from 1936 & 1978

Rainfall amounts across the metro area, using several sources like rainlog.org, the Pima County Regional Flood Control District gages and CoCoRaHS, ranged widely from a tenth of an inch to 1" with localized areas recording between 1" and 1.60". The International airport, which is the official recording spot in Tucson, recorded just over a half an inch /0.53"/. This ranks as the 55th wettest October on record, tied with 1941. On average, the Tucson airport records two days with thunderstorms. This month the airport recorded 9 days which is the highest amount dating back to 1948. The previous highest amount for October was 7 days in 1983, 2000 & 2015.

Two-thirds of climatological Fall is in the books and 2022 ranks as the 15th warmest & 56th driest on record with one month left to go.

The average yearly temperature, through the end of October, of 74.4° is 0.9° above normal and ranks as the 7th warmest on record. The yearly rainfall total of 6.14" at the Tucson International airport, the official location in Tucson, ranks as the 15th driest January through October period on record. This is a quite a difference from a year ago when the airport recorded 13.84" of rain through the end of October.

The Climate Prediction Center forecasts for temperature a 35% chance that they will end up above normal and a 32% chance that they will end up below normal. The forecast for precipitation is a 33% chance that they will be above normal and a 33% chance that they will end up below normal.

An very odd quirk happened this November when you compare the daily highs this year versus last year. Every one of them ended up being cooler than a year ago. This is the first time since March 1973 that every daily high temperature of a month was cooler than what occurred one year earlier. This has also occurred in August 1963 & February 1905. Here was the tweet the office issued.

Rainfall amounts, using several sources like rainlog.org, the Pima County Regional Flood Control District gages and CoCoRaHS, were mostly less than a tenth an inch /0.10"/ with localized totals up to a third of an inch /0.33"/, especially near Vail and on the northwest side of the metro area. The International airport, which is the official recording spot in Tucson, recorded a trace of rain which is well below normal and ranks as the 16th driest November on record.

The Climate Prediction Center forecast for Fall 2022 called for a 46% chance of above normal temperatures and a 22% chance of below normal temperatures. For the first time since 2004, the average Fall temperature was below normal.

The average Fall temperature of 71.3° is 1.0° below the 1991-2020 normal. It ended being the coolest Fall since 2006. Temperature extremes for Fall ranged from a high of 103° on September 6th to a low of 36° on November 26th.

Rainfall amounts across the metro area, using several sources like rainlog.org, the Pima County Regional Flood Control District gages and CoCoRaHS, ranged widely across the metro area from 0.50" to 3" with localized totals up to 3.75". The International airport, which is the official recording spot in Tucson, was on the dry side as just over one and a third of an inch /1.34"/ was recorded. This ranks as the 35th driest Fall on record.

The average yearly temperature through the end of November of 72.9° ranks as the 11th warmest on record. The yearly rainfall total of 6.14" at the Tucson International airport, the official location in Tucson, ranks as the 10th driest January through November period on record. The yearly total to date currently stands as the 7th driest year with one month left in 2022. The airport needs to record around 0.37" of rain during December to escape being ranked in the top 10 driest years on record. Normal rainfall for December 0.96".

The Climate Prediction Center forecasts for temperature a 44% chance that they will end up above normal and a 23% chance that they will end up below normal. The forecast for precipitation is a 24% chance that they will be above normal and a 43% chance that they will end up below normal.

Dry with above normal high temperatures from the 5th to the 11th with highs in the mid-60's to the lower 70's.

The second Pacific storm of the month moved across the area on the 12th bringing with it widespread valley rain and mountain snow. Since it was a colder one than earlier in the month, snow levels at times reached down to the valley floor with some light snow occurring on the east side of the metro area. Rainfall amounts were mostly between 0.25" and 0.75". With a colder air mass in place, high temperatures were in the 50's from the 12th through 16th with daily lows in the mid 20's to mid 30's from the 13th through the 17th.

Over the next 10 days high temperatures gradually warmed through the 60's into the 70's peaking on the 27th with a monthly high temperature of 79°.

A couple of weak weather systems moved across the area on the 28th through 30th bringing the area another shot of valley rain and mountain snow.

The last day of 2022 was dry with afternoon temperatures in the upper 60's to lower 70's.

The monthly average temperature of 54.0° is 1.0° ABOVE normal and ranks as the 25th warmest December on record, tied with 1995. Temperature extremes for the month ranged from a high of 79° on the 27th to a low of 30° on the 15th & 17th. One daily temperature record was set. A high minimum temperature of 59° on the 4th broke the old warm low for the date of 56° from 1946.

Rainfall amounts, using several sources like rainlog.org, the Pima County Regional Flood Control District gages and CoCoRaHS, ranged from 0.75" to 2.50". The Tucson International airport, which is the official recording spot in Tucson, recorded 1.27" which is around a third of an inch above normal and ranks as the 37th wettest December on record.

Rainfall amounts across the metro during the first three months of the hydrologic water year has ranged from 1.10" to 3.50". The story is much different in the Catalina and Rincon mountains where between 4" and 10" of precipitation has been recorded so far this water year. The Tucson International airport, which is the official recording spot in Tucson, has recorded 1.80" which is four-tenths of an inch below normal and ranks as the 57th driest first quarter of the water year on record.

Looking ahead into January

Here are some of the monthly temperature highlights during 2022:

• January: 17th warmest on record.
• February: 59th warmest on record. Average monthly temperature was 1.9° below normal.
• March: 24th warmest on record. Average monthly temperature was 0.2° below normal.
• April: 4th warmest on record. First 100° high of 2022 occurred on the 26th, 3rd earliest occurrence on record.
• May: 6th warmest on record.
• June: 5th warmest on record. Average monthly low temperature warmest on record..
• July: 7th warmest on record and 9th warmest "ANY" month on record. 3rd & 5th warmest all-time low temperatures were recorded.
• August: 38th warmest on record. Second straight August to be below normal.
• September: 4th warmest on record. September records more triple digit highs (8) than August (7).
• October: 40th warmest on record. Second straight October to be below normal.
• November: 44th coolest on record. Every high temperature was cooler than the previous November.
• December: 25th warmest on record. 2nd warmest December low occurs on 4th.

Season highlights

• Winter: 13th warmest on record.
• Spring: 5th warmest on record. Lowest seasonal dew point average since 1946.
• Summer: 3rd warmest on record.
• Fall: 37th warmest on record. Average seasonal temperature was 1.0° below normal. 1st below normal fall since 2004.

Comparing 2022 to 2021

• # of days with highs 100°+: 66 in 2022; 63 in 2021. Normal 68 days.
• # of days with highs 105°+: 24 in 2022; 19 in 2021. Normal 26 days.
• # of days with highs 110°+: 2 in 2022; 8 in 2021. Normal 2 days.
• # of days with lows 32° or colder: 7 in 2022; 3 in 2021. Normal 12 days

A total of sixteen daily record temperatures were set or tied during 2022. This is the least amount in a year since there was ten in 2008. The table below shows the breakdown for highs, low maximums and high minimums. The yearly high temperature was 111° on June 16th while the yearly low temperature was 26° on February 3rd.

Coming off one of the WETTEST years on record in 2021 where the airport recorded 15.19", the outlook called for enhanced probabilities for below normal rainfall through the Spring season then equal chances for below, near or above normal rainfall for the remainder of the year.

The first five months were rather dry with the airport only recording 0.67" or 2" below normal. The annual monsoon was not quite as active as it was in 2021 with rainfall amounts ranging widely across the metro area from 3" to 8" with localized higher amounts up to 12". Fall was dry with above normal rainfall returning to the area during December. Officially, 7.41" of rain was recorded at the International airport which ranks, in the 128 year climatic record period (1895-2022) for Tucson, as the 13th driest year on record.

An statistical oddity occurred in 2022 in that not one daily rainfall record was set at the official recording site. Dating back to 1910, every year has had a least one daily rainfall record be broken.

Here are some of the monthly rainfall highlights during 2022:

• January: 38th driest with 0.28".
• February: 30th driest with 0.20".
• March: 29th driest with 0.19". 18th straight March with below normal rainfall.
• April: DRIEST with no rain. 13th April in which official site recorded zero rainfall.
• May: DRIEST with no rain. 25th May in which official site recorded zero rainfall.
• June: 38th wettest with 0.23". 9th longest streak with no rain ended at 80 days on June 18th.
• July: 28th driest with 1.08".
• August: 34th wettest with 2.82".
• September: 53rd driest with 0.81". Hydrological water year (Oct. 1 to Sep. 30) ended with 6.97" or 11th driest.
• October: 55th wettest with 0.53".
• November: 16th driest with Trace. This is the 25th November that the official recording location recorded no measurable rain..
• December: 37th wettest with 1.27".

Season highlights

• Winter: 48th driest with 1.82". Light snow on January 26th.
• Spring: 11th driest with 0.19". 63 consecutive days with no rain.
• Summer: 52nd driest with 4.13".
• Monsoon: 46th driest with 4.94".
• Fall: 13th driest with 1.34"

Rainfall totals across the metro area, using several sources like rainlog.org, the Pima County Regional Flood Control District gages and CoCoRaHS, ranged from 6"-13" across the metro area with significantly higher totals in the surrounding mountains.

The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) forecasts enhanced probabilities for above normal temperatures for the entire year. Thus expect the consecutive year streak of above normal temperatures to be extended to 25 years.

CPC forecasts, thanks to weakening La Niña conditions in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, probabilities leaning for below normal rainfall through the Spring season then equal chances for below, near or above normal rainfall for most the remainder of the year. The exception is the summer thunderstorm season where the forecast for precipitation is a 36% chance that they will be above normal and a 31% chance that they will end up below normal.