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Currently:58.2°F Sunny, Dry
Sunny, Dry
Comfort Index: ---
 Updated02-Dec-2024 9:05am @ 
 
Time of Next Full Update: 9:10 am -  Station Elev: 1469 ft  
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Current Conditions

@ 02-Dec-2024 9:05am
58.2°F Warmer 6.8°F than last hour.
Temp Change: °F /hr
Sunny, Dry  Sunny, Dry
Feels Like: 58 °F
Humidity: 35%Decreased 5% since last hour.
Dew Point: 30.7 °FIncreased 2.9°F since last hour.
Wind: Calm
---

 mph
Gust: 0.0 mph
Pressure: 30.14 in Rising 0.01 inHg/hour
Steady
Solar Rad: 100%
278 W/m2
UV Index: 0.5
 Low 
Rain Today: 0.00 in
Rain Rate: 0.000 in
Rain Month: 0.00 in
Rain Year: 8.14 in

Almanac

Sunrise: 7:15 am
Sunset: 5:19 pm
Moonrise: 8:49 am
Moonset: 5:24 pm
New Moon
New Moon, Moon age: 1 days,1 hours,23 minutes,1%
1%
Illuminated

Daily Min/Max

Today's High Temp: 58.2°F
9:04am
Today's Low Temp: 48.7°F
6:32am
Today's High Humidity: 42%
5:39am
Today's Low Humidity: 35%
8:30am
Today's High Dewpoint: 31.9°F
8:52am
Today's Low Dewpoint: 26.4°F
5:38am
Today's High Barometric Pressure: 30.140 in/Hg
9:01am
Today's Low Barometric Pressure: 30.058 in/Hg
1:15am
Today's High Wind Speed: 0.0 mph
1:53pm
Today's
High UV:
0.5
 Low 
8:55am
Today's
High Solar:
278 W/m2
9:04am
Today's High Rain Rate: 0.000 in/min
5:00pm
Today's High
Hourly Rain Rate:
0.000 in/hr
Days Since
Last Rain:
28 Days

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Pepper Ridge North Valley's

Why Thunderstorms Occur In The Summer In Arizona



Back to Monsoon Basics Page




Summer Thunderstorms in Arizona?


Why do Thunderstorms Occur in Arizona During the Summer?

The summer thunderstorm season in Arizona is the northern extension of the Mexican Monsoon. As a result summer rain in Arizona is more variable than across northwest Mexico. Even so, storms in July, August and early September are usually frequent enough to provide a welcome change from the hot, dry days of June.

Where does the moisture for summer thunderstorms in Arizona come from?

There are several moisture sources for thunderstorms in Arizona during the monsoon. The following discussion summarizes the most significant moisture sources for thunderstorms and rain over Arizona.

Mid-level moisture is often the earliest moisture to arrive over Arizona during the monsoon. The mid-levels are roughly defined as the layer between 10,000 and 30,000 feet above sea level.

The source for mid-level moisture during the summer is mainly thunderstorms that occur in surrounding regions. The moist remnants of thunderstorms can move into Arizona from the northeast, southeast or south depending on the large-scale flow pattern.

This graphic shows mid-level flow over Arizona



There are several potential sources of low-level moisture over the southern half of Arizona. They include; diurnal flow, Gulf of California moisture surges, thunderstorm outflows, moisture recycling and backdoor fronts.

Diuarnal Flow - The moisture input due to diurnal flow is realtively small in Arizona but increases dramtically further south across northwest Mexico. In general the diurnal surface flow is about 5 to 10 knots from the Gulf of California towards Arizona and the mountain foothills of west and northwest Mexico. This source acts to moisten the low-levels in Arizona but seldom provides enough moisture for significant convective outbreaks. In Mexico the diurnal contribution from the Gulf of California is higher and can enhance developing thunderstorms.

This graphic shows diurnal flow



Gulf Surges - Gulf of California moisture surges are a major source of low-level moisture for thunderstorms in Arizona. A Gulf of California surge is a push of low-level moist and cool air that moves northward over the Gulf of California and into southern and Central Arizona. The "Gulf Surge" is such an important player in Arizona monsoon weather a more in-depth presentation is located on the Monsoon Basics Page.

This graphic show a gulf surge



Thunderstorm Outflow - Outflows from thunderstorms also contribute to increasing moisture in Arizona during the monsoon. Each day, during an active monsoon period, thunderstorms develop over the mountains of northwest Mexico and/or Arizona. As these storms release their storage of rain and hail evaporation occurs. This creates cool and moist pockets of air that descend to the ground and move out from the parent thunderstorms. If they are strong enough they can generate new thunder storms in front of the existing storm. Over a series of days the increase in moisture due to outflows can produce a threat of thunderstorms.

This graphic shows thunderstorm outflows



Moisture Recycling - Recycling primarily moistens the low-levels but also provides some moisture at mid-levels due to the depth of desert heating. Moisture recycling occurs when daytime heating causes evaporation at the surface and plant transpiration. The moisture released is mixed upward into the atmosphere. The recycling moisture source is usually in addition to moisture already present and is part of the reason the mountain foothills receive so much more rain than the deserts.

This graphic show moisture recycling



Backdoor Fronts - On occasion, when strong and deep cold fronts form over the High Plains of the United States and move southward along the front range of the Rocky Mountains, they can move across New Mexico and into Arizona. By the time these fronts reach Arizona they are weak but can transport moist low-level air from the High Plains into Arizona. Occasionally enough moisture is present to enhance thunderstorm development over Arizona.

This graphic depicts a back door cold front



What is the character of thunderstorms observed during Arizona's summer thunderstorm season?

The following examples below depict the different types of thunder storms obsevered on a daily basics during the monsoon. The storms occurance and strengh are highly dependant on the available moisture and the strengh of steering winds that can drive the storms off the mountains and into the deserts.

The strengh of thunderstorms and the amount and coverage of Monsoon thunderstorms can range from low grade, typical or active patterns. On ocassion a tropical connection can enhances the thunderstorms and can lead to wide spread severe weather.

Low Grade Monsoon: - This ocurrs when there is mid-level moisture present across Arizona the high terrain of northern and eastern Arizona can thunderstorms. Storms that form are usually rather benign (except for cloud-to-ground lightning!) and produce little if any significant weather. However, rain amounts of up to half an inch can occur in the mountains. Over a number of days the rainfall totals in the mountains can really add-up. When only mid-level moisture is present it is very difficult for thunderstorms to venture into the desert areas.


This graphic show thunderstomrs over the mountains

This graphic show thunderstomrs over the mountains




Typical Monsoon - Condtions occur when mid-level moisture is present along with an increase in low-level moisture storms will build over the mountains. These storms, while in the mountains, are likely to be stronger and produce more rain than their mid-level moisture counterparts. Since there is more low-level moisture storms are able to move off of the mountains by mid-afternoon and make their way into the high desert. But once again, as these storms move towards the low desert, the air is too dry and stable and they diminish. On days such as this a thunderstorm or two will usually manage to make into Phoenix or Tucson but they then to be weak with only a trace to half inch of rain. On these days Southeastern Arizona and the mountains will see the majority of the thunderstorms.


This graphic shows thunderstorms moving off the mountains

This graphic shows thunderstorms moving off the mountains



Active Monsoon - Is When ample mid-level and low-level moisture is located across Arizona widespread thunderstorm activity is possible. Storms form over the mountains first but head towards the desert area by mid-afternoon. With ample low-levemoisture present storms can become very strong producing a large area of strong wind, heavy rain and frequentcloud-to-ground lightning. Storms can move across the low desert when plenty of low-level moisture is present. In cases of extremely high levels of low-level moisture thundestorms can develop all night, and form into meso- scale convective complexes and move all the way to the California/Arizona border.


This graphic show thunderstorms moving into the valleys

This graphic show thunderstorms moving into the valleys



Tropical Connection - Is a less frequently observed pattern for a Gulf Surge is when a tropical storm or hurricane is located near the southern tip of Baja California. The realtively cool and moist tropical air mass is essentially pushed northward through the Gulf of California. At the same time Arizona is usually experiencing very hot daytime temperatures with a strong thermal low at the surface. This feature is most likely to occur in late season (August or September).

This shows a tropical system patttern


What does a surge look like?

Of course not all Surges are created equal. Some surges are shallow and weak with virtually no affect on Arizona except to increase the humidity. Surges of moderate depth and strength can penetrate all the way into Mogollon Rim country with a distinct upswing in convective activity across Arizona. Occasionally, maybe once or twice a monsoon season, a strong and deep surge will find it's way into Arizona. This is when the real fireworks begin!

A cross section of a surge

Talk about Thunderstorms!

When a strong and deep surge moves across Arizona the fuel for really big storms moves into place. When a big surge passes through Tucson or Phoenix the temperature drops and the humidity skyrockets. It feels like Houston, Texas for a day! Gulf Surges provide the fuel (moisture) responsible for many of the monster thunderstorm complexes that form and ravage the lower desert of Arizona.

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 Pepper Ridge North Valley Random Weather Facts

MONSOON
The word "monsoon" comes from the Arabic "mausim" which means "a season" A common misuse of the term "monsoon" is to refer to INDIVIDUAL thunderstorms as "monsoons" (example - "The North Valley was pounded by monsoons this evening!"). The correct statement would be "The east valley was pounded by strong thunderstorms this evening!"

A MONSOON is a Seasonal wind shift that often brings a dramatic increase in moisture, and associated shower and thunderstorm activity, to the affected region. As the monsoon ends, and the winds shift again, the reverse occurs, with much drier air moving into the area.

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