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Phoenix: Record Dry, Hot Start To 2022
June 17, 2022 at 05:23 PM EDT
By WeatherBug Sr. Meteorologist, Chad Merrill
When most people think of Phoenix, the first thing that comes to mind is desert heat and very dry weather. Indeed, the Valley of the Sun is living up to that reputation so far this calendar year.
This year is off to a very grim start for rainfall. Since June 16, only 0.55 inches of rain have accumulated, making it the fourth driest start to the calendar year on record. The top three driest years had 0.06 inches, 0.19 inches and 0.36 inches of rain respectively by June 16. This hasn’t been the only month with a rainfall deficit. As of the latest drought monitor, 98.48-percent of Arizona is in a moderate to exceptional drought. June 2022 is a near-mirror image of June 2021, when 98.94-percent of Arizona was in a level 1 to 4 drought. As a matter of fact, the last time drought coverage in Arizona was less than 50-percent was July 28, 2020, so it has been in the making for the last two years.
If you are wondering whether there is a trend in the top three driest years through June and ENSO (the warming or cooling of the Equatorial Pacific), there isn’t. The top two driest years on record through mid-June started as either a Neutral, near average sea surface temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific, or El Nino pattern, a warming of the equatorial Pacific. The third driest, January to June of 2012, was indeed a La Nina year as 2022 has been thus far.
Not surprising, the bone-dry weather this year has pushed the mercury through the roof in Phoenix. The hottest temperature so far this year was 114 degrees on June 11, 2022. This ranks as the second warmest temperature recorded in Phoenix through mid-June. Five previous years, including 2021, 2016, 1987, 1985 and 1974, saw a high temperature of 115 degrees prior to June 16.
June is historically Phoenix’s driest month of the year with an average of 0.02 inches of rain. In an average year, Phoenix makes leaps and strides with rainfall going forward through the summer. The Southwest Monsoon typically develops in early July and stays strong through August. This is essentially an increase in atmospheric pressure over New Mexico in June. The clockwise circulation around high pressure helps drive moisture north from the Pacific Ocean, Gulf of California and the Gulf of Mexico into Arizona. Therefore, July tends to be Phoenix’s second wettest month with an average of 0.91 inches of rain and August leads the pack as the wettest month of the year with 0.93 inches of rain.
There is upside risk for near to above-average rainfall in Phoenix going through the end of July. However, the rain will only put a small dent in the long-standing drought.
Monsoon rain usually comes in the form of thunderstorms, which often produce heavy downpours. These downpours can easily contribute to flash flooding, so if you come across a roadway covered in water, “Turn Around, Don’t Drown,” as the water is usually deeper than it appears. Stay with WeatherBug as we track the progress of the Southwest drought each week through the entire year.
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Story Image: High temperatures on a day in mid-June 2002 are seen.
This year is off to a very grim start for rainfall. Since June 16, only 0.55 inches of rain have accumulated, making it the fourth driest start to the calendar year on record. The top three driest years had 0.06 inches, 0.19 inches and 0.36 inches of rain respectively by June 16. This hasn’t been the only month with a rainfall deficit. As of the latest drought monitor, 98.48-percent of Arizona is in a moderate to exceptional drought. June 2022 is a near-mirror image of June 2021, when 98.94-percent of Arizona was in a level 1 to 4 drought. As a matter of fact, the last time drought coverage in Arizona was less than 50-percent was July 28, 2020, so it has been in the making for the last two years.
If you are wondering whether there is a trend in the top three driest years through June and ENSO (the warming or cooling of the Equatorial Pacific), there isn’t. The top two driest years on record through mid-June started as either a Neutral, near average sea surface temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific, or El Nino pattern, a warming of the equatorial Pacific. The third driest, January to June of 2012, was indeed a La Nina year as 2022 has been thus far.
Not surprising, the bone-dry weather this year has pushed the mercury through the roof in Phoenix. The hottest temperature so far this year was 114 degrees on June 11, 2022. This ranks as the second warmest temperature recorded in Phoenix through mid-June. Five previous years, including 2021, 2016, 1987, 1985 and 1974, saw a high temperature of 115 degrees prior to June 16.
June is historically Phoenix’s driest month of the year with an average of 0.02 inches of rain. In an average year, Phoenix makes leaps and strides with rainfall going forward through the summer. The Southwest Monsoon typically develops in early July and stays strong through August. This is essentially an increase in atmospheric pressure over New Mexico in June. The clockwise circulation around high pressure helps drive moisture north from the Pacific Ocean, Gulf of California and the Gulf of Mexico into Arizona. Therefore, July tends to be Phoenix’s second wettest month with an average of 0.91 inches of rain and August leads the pack as the wettest month of the year with 0.93 inches of rain.
There is upside risk for near to above-average rainfall in Phoenix going through the end of July. However, the rain will only put a small dent in the long-standing drought.
Monsoon rain usually comes in the form of thunderstorms, which often produce heavy downpours. These downpours can easily contribute to flash flooding, so if you come across a roadway covered in water, “Turn Around, Don’t Drown,” as the water is usually deeper than it appears. Stay with WeatherBug as we track the progress of the Southwest drought each week through the entire year.
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Story Image: High temperatures on a day in mid-June 2002 are seen.