arizona climate summary · 2018. 10. 17. · 1 arizona climate summary september 2018 summary of...

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Arizona Climate Summary September 2018

Summary of conditions for August 2018

August 2018 Temperature and Precipitation Summary

August 1st – 15th: August began with high pressure centered over the state and scattered rain showers.. Rain fell every

day somewhere in the state through the 27th of the month. During the first 5 days, the rainfall totals included 0.31” at

Bisbee-Douglas, 1.11” at Flagstaff, 0.24” at the Grand Canyon, 0.49” at Kingman, 0.11” at Page, 0.05” at Phoenix

Airport, 1.05” at Prescott, 0.92” at Sonora Desert Museum, 0.26” at Tucson Airport, 0.34” at Window Rock, 0.23” at

Winslow, 0.20” at Cottonwood, 0.55 at Douglas, 0.13” at Eloy, 0.02” at Payson, 0.28” at Seligman and 0.19” at Show

Low. Daily rainfall amounts picked up significantly through the 15th with 0.50” at Bisbee-Douglas on the 6th-7th, 1.10”

at Coronado on the 8th, 1.06” at Pinnacle Peak on the 9th, 2.01” at East Mesa on the 10th, 2.80” at Carefree on the 11th,

0.29” at Coronado NM and Phantom Ranch on the 12th, 0.54” at Flagstaff on the 13th, 1.31” at Flagstaff on the 14th, and

1.07” at Safford on the 15th. Daytime temperatures during the first week of August ranged from 111 to 114oF in the

southwest deserts and 79 to 88oF at the higher elevations. Nighttime temperatures ranged from mid 70s to 91oF in the

southwest deserts 55 to 66oF at the higher elevations. Both daytime and nighttime temperatures cooled off 5 to 10

degrees during the 2nd week of August as storms became more widespread.

August 16th – 31st: Monsoon activity continued through the 27th. From the 16th through the 20th, daily totals were less

than 0.75” and daytime temperatures ranged from 102 to 110oF in the southwest deserts and low to mid 50s in the higher

elevations. Daily rainfall totals increased on the 21st through the 25th, with 0.85” at Grand Canyon Airport on the 21st,

0.97” at the Grand Canyon North Rim on the 22nd, 1.58” at Seligman on the 23rd, 1.31” at Carefree on the 24th, and 0.98”

at Tucson on the 25th. By the 28th, the high pressure had moved to the east over Texas and dry air moved into the state.

Rainfall the rest of the month was very light and spotty. No rainfall was reported on the 28th or 29th, and the “heaviest”

rainfall was reported at Coronado National Monument, 0.05” on the 30th and 0.02” on the 31st. High temperatures

ranged from 106 to 108oFin the deserts and 66 to 77oF at the higher elevations.

In This Issue: Overview of August, graphs of the August daily maximum and minimum temperatures, precipitation,

mean daily dew points for Flagstaff, Phoenix, and Tucson; August climate statistics, maps of mean monthly maximum

and minimum temperatures, precipitation, dew points, wind speeds for August; short-term drought maps for the

beginning and end of August 2018; Long-term Drought Map through August and graphs of the mean August temperature

and precipitation for the period of record for Tucson, Phoenix, and Flagstaff, graphs of the cumulative precipitation for

the calendar year for Flagstaff, Phoenix, and Tucson. Climate calendars for Flagstaff, Phoenix, Tucson, Prescott,

Winslow and Yuma, including daily and monthly normals and extremes, for each month of the year, are not yet updated

through 2017. See p.21 of this report for calendar abbreviations. Data are preliminary and are from the National

Weather Service Forecast Offices in Flagstaff, Phoenix and Tucson.

**Note: The discrepancy between the Statewide Temperature and Precipitation values for Phoenix, Flagstaff and

Tucson and the daily values in their graphs are due to the reporting times. Statewide Temperature and Precipitation

values are taken at 5pm, while official daily records at the airports are taken from Midnight to Midnight.

Dr. Nancy J. Selover, State Climatologist

http://azclimate.asu.edu 480-965-0580

Edited by Nancy J. Selover

© 2018 Arizona State Climate Office

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August 2018 Daily Temperature, Precipitation, & Dew Point for Flagstaff, Phoenix, and Tucson

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FLAGSTAFF CLIMATE STATISTICS

August 2018

This August was tied for 26th warmest with 3 other

years (1934, 1946, 1981) and was the 10th wettest

on record.

Avg Max Temp(F) 79.4 Normal 78.4

Avg Min Temp(F) 51.5 Normal 50.1

Avg Mean Temp(F) 65.4 Normal 64.2

Departure from Normal (F) +1.2

Highest Monthly Avg Temp (F) 67.5 in 1944

Lowest Monthly Avg Temp (F) 59.5 in 1968

Highest Temp this month (F): 88 on 6th & 7th

Lowest Temp this month (F): 44 on 28th

Record High (F): 93 on 8/02/1902

Record Low (F): 32 on 8/23/1968

Temperature or precipitation records this month:

14th Precip 1.31” set, previous record 1.10” in 1909

Flagstaff Number of Days of:

Minimum Temp 55oF or higher 6

Minimum Temp 50oF or lower 9

Maximum Temp 85oF or higher 4

Maximum Temp 75oF or lower 8

Heating Degree Days 35 Normal 56

Cooling Degree Days 57 Normal 33

Degree base 65oF

Total August Precipitation 5.15”

Normal August Precipitation 3.11”

Departure from normal +2.04”

Greatest 24-Hr Precipitation 1.31” on 14th

Total Precipitation Year-to-Date 14.36”

Departure from Normal +0.17”

Total August Snowfall 0.0” Normal 0.0”

Record August Snowfall 0.0”

Number of Days:

Clear 26

Partly Cloudy 5

Cloudy 0

Greatest August Precipitation 8.77” in 1904

Least August Precipitation: 0.26” in 1962.

Average Wind Speed 5.2 mph

Highest Peak Gust 37 mph from 200o on 21st

PHOENIX CLIMATE STATISTICS

August 2018

This August was tied for 21st warmest on record

with 2 other years (2010, 2017) and the 26th wettest

on record.



Avg Mean Temp (F) 94.0 Normal 93.6




Highest Temp this month (F) 114 on 6th


Record High (F): 117 on 8/14/2015, 8/26/2011

Record Low (F): 58 on 8/20/1917


4th HiMin 91 set, previous record 90 in 2009

6th HiMax 114 tied, first set in 1995

10th Precip 0.56” set, previous record 0.32” in 1958

20th HiMin 90 set, previous record 88 in 2007

Phoenix Number of Days of:







Degree base 65oF



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Greatest 24-Hr Precipitation 0.56” on 10th


Departure from Normal -2.31”


Least August Precipitation 0.00” in 1973, 1975,

2002

Number of Days:

Clear 12

Partly Cloudy 19

Cloudy 0


Highest Peak Gust 64 mph from 50o on 8th

TUCSON CLIMATE STATISTICS

August 2018

This August was tied for 15th warmest on record

with 1998 and had no significant ranking for

precipitation.



Avg Mean Temp(F) 86.5 Normal 85.3




Highest Temp this month (F): 109 on 6th


Record High (F): 112 on 8/01/1993

Record Low (F): 55 on 8/20/1917


5th HiMin 84 tied, first set in 1944

6th HiMax 109 tied, first set in 1995

Tucson Number of Days of:







Degree base 65oF




Greatest 24-Hr Precipitation 0.98”on 24th


Departure from Normal -0.05”


Least August Precipitation 0.08” in 1924

Number of Days:

Clear M

Partly Cloudy M

Cloudy M


Highest Peak Gust 60 mph from 230o on 1st

Data are from the National Weather Service and the

National Climatic Data Center and are preliminary.

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Wind Speeds for August:

Day Phoenix Flagstaff Tucson

(mph) Avg Max Avg Max Avg Max

1 6.2 29 6.3 24 4.7 60

2 9.1 54 3.7 25 6.2 30

3 4.9 22 4.6 24 5.9 27

4 5.8 21 5.4 26 7.2 22

5 7.2 24 6 33 6.5 22

6 7.2 25 3.9 22 8.9 31

7 11.5 39 4.7 25 8.8 49

8 9.4 64 8.1 25 7.9 36

9 8 51 5.8 26 5.9 24

10 9 45 3.1 22 6.8 33

11 7.9 38 4.9 36 6.8 34

12 7.6 58 6.2 23 7.9 39

13 7.1 33 7.1 26 6.5 27

14 9.4 39 5.5 27 7.3 36

15 6.4 25 3.1 17 4.9 18

16 8.9 29 4.4 22 7 21

17 6.5 26 2.7 13 6.2 19

18 6.7 23 5 23 6.1 26

19 7.8 19 3 16 6.4 24

20 6.7 21 5.1 28 8.4 56

21 8.9 24 7.8 37 5.8 20

22 11.4 25 6.3 24 6.5 39

23 7.5 42 3.1 21 8 30

24 6.9 56 3.5 17 8.4 46

25 5.8 19 2.5 26 6.3 26

26 6.3 21 6.6 26 6.4 20

27 8.3 20 11.1 33 6.5 25

28 4.7 26 6.8 30 6.5 18

29 4.8 16 4.3 23 7.1 38

30 5.9 19 5.5 23 6.2 23

31 5.5 20 6.1 29 5.6 20

Dew Points for August:

Daily Average Dew Point (oF):

Day Flg Phx Tuc

1 59 63 54

2 61 61 54

3 60 59 52

4 57 55 50

5 51 54 43

6 57 56 38

7 60 60 47

8 64 63 47

9 65 64 50

10 64 62 52

11 64 62 52

12 62 61 50

13 65 62 51

14 64 63 51

15 67 65 52

16 66 65 55

17 66 65 55

18 64 64 50

19 62 63 52

20 60 61 52

21 64 63 53

22 64 65 53

23 67 63 53

24 66 64 54

25 64 65 52

26 54 62 49

27 48 59 42

28 46 53 37

29 52 55 40

30 57 56 44

31 57 54 44

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The

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August 2018

The minimum temperatures ranged from 30oF at Meteor Crater and Hannagan Meadow to 79oF at Goodyear Airport. The lowest maximum temperature of

74oF was recorded at Snowslide Canyon and the highest was 120oF at Havasu. The highest rainfall totals were 7.40” at Kitt Peak and 7.08” at Prescott. The

lowest average dew point was 40oF at Flagstaff and the highest was 66oF at Coolidge and Sahuarito. The highest peak wind gust was 53 mph at Mesa and 51

at Maricopa. Average wind speeds ranged from 3 mph in many locations to 13 mph at Kingman.

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T

August 2018

The highest average minimum temperature was 87oF at Laughlin-Bullhead City, and the lowest average minimum temperature was 40oF at the east entrance to

the Grand Canyon. The highest average maximum temperature was 112oF at Bullhead City and Havasu and the lowest average maximum temperature was

67oF at Snowslide Canyon.

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Short term drought maps for July 31st on left and August 28th on right. The monsoon activity in central and southern Arizona has led to removal of

Exceptional Drought (D4) along the Maricopa/Gila County border and reduction of Extreme Drought (D3) in central Maricopa and western Pinal and Pima

counties. Exceptional Drought (D4) dropped from 10.55% of the state to 8.62%. Extreme Drought has been reduced from 47% to 40%. While monsoon

precipitation has benefitted northern and eastern Arizona, the greatest improvement has been in southeastern Arizona which was the big loser during the

winter wet season.

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The long-term drought map for August shows hydrologic drought, and this month it is based on precipitation

and evaporation using the Standardized Precipitation Evaporative Index (SPEI) over the past 24-, 36-, and 48-

months. This depiction is for water resources, not short-term drought (rangeland conditions). Though much of

Coconino and northern Mohave County show up as abnormally dry or moderate drought, there are significant

water resource issues, such as wells going dry and water hauling. A few small areas in Mohave and

southwestern La Paz County show No Drought (white), but this is due to a lack of data around those locations.

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August

August minimum temperatures were 0-2oF warmer than average across most of the state with a couple of cooler than normal spots in southern Navajo and

Apache counties, eastern Gila County, and the Yavapai/Coconino/Gila County borders. Northern Coconino and southern Mohave counties were 2-6 degrees

warmer than normal. Daytime temperatures have been 1-4oF warmer than average across northern and southeastern Arizona. South Central Arizona has been

0-3oF cooler than average, largely due to storm events. Rainfall has been much greater than average across central Arizona, but less than average in eastern

and western Arizona.

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Calendar Year 2018

Calendar year minimum temperatures across Arizona have been 1 to 3oF warmer than average, though a few spots have been slightly cooler than average.

Daytime temperatures have been 1 to 3oF warmer than average in southern Arizona and 2-5oF warmer than average in the northern half of the state. In spite of

the wet August in central Arizona, this area, along with northeastern and southwestern Arizona, has received less than 70% of average precipitation. A few

spots have received near average or above average precipitation this calendar year.

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s aham, Cochise, La Paz, OPima and

2018 Water Year

Water Year 2018 minimum temperatures have ranged from 1-3oF warmer than average in central and southern Arizona and Coconino County, while Apache,

Navajo, and La Paz counties have had some cooler than average temperatures. Daytime temperatures in the state have been 2 to 6oF warmer than average

mostly due to the lack of cold winter storms. The monsoon rainfall has not yet been enough to make up for the significant deficits left by the dry fall, winter

and spring.. Most of the state has still received less than 70% of normal precipitation and many areas have received less than 50%. Only September remains

to make up this deficit.

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August Mean Temperature Graphs – Flagstaff, Phoenix, and Tucson 1895-2018:

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August Precipitation Graphs – Flagstaff, Phoenix, and Tucson 1895-2018

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2018 Cumulative Precipitation Graphs – Flagstaff, Phoenix and Tucson:

Flagstaff is 0.17” above normal, Phoenix is 2.31” below normal, and Tucson is 0.05” below normal.

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The downloadable normals and extremes calendars use the following abbreviations:

NORM = 30 year (1971-2000) average value (degrees Fahrenheit (F))

OBS = The temperature observation for that day this year

AVG = Average daily temperature

HI MAX = Highest maximum temperature for that day (F)

LO MAX = Lowest maximum temperature for that day (F)

LO MIN = Lowest minimum temperature for that day (F)

HI MIN = Highest minimum temperature for that day (F)

Mx PCP = Maximum precipitation for that day (inches)

Mx SNO = Maximum snowfall for that day (inches)

arizona climate summary · 2018. 10. 17. · 1 arizona climate summary september 2018 summary of...

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