{"id":35,"date":"2024-11-12T21:57:45","date_gmt":"2024-11-12T21:57:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/globalfutures.asu.edu\/azclimate\/?page_id=35"},"modified":"2026-02-01T23:02:43","modified_gmt":"2026-02-01T23:02:43","slug":"monsoon","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/globalfutures.asu.edu\/azclimate\/monsoon\/","title":{"rendered":"Monsoon"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The monsoon season typically begins in early June when active thunderstorms build in central and southern Mexico. In mid- to late June, the thunderstorms move toward the International Border and into Arizona. The monsoon is a season where the dry, westerly winds (winds coming from the west) that typically persist through fall, winter and spring shift to moist, southerly winds (winds coming from the south). The incoming moisture helps build thunderstorm activity across the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Terminology: <\/strong>The term \u201cmonsoon\u201d refers to a seasonal time of year where thunderstorms are more likely to occur. A monsoon is NOT a thunderstorm, but the monsoon season can help build thunderstorms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monsoon thunderstorm activity accounts for roughly half of the annual precipitation in central and northern Arizona, and two-thirds to three-fourths of the annual precipitation in southern Arizona. The short-lived, intense monsoon thunderstorms can often cause flash flooding in areas with steep terrain, low-lying roads, or normally dry washes. Lightning, hail, dust storms and strong winds are common during the monsoon season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Basics of the Arizona monsoon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Learn<\/a>
Click on the image to read the article Basics of the Arizona Monsoon<\/strong><\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Chart<\/a>
Click on the image to the Storm Prediction Center of NOAA where you can find more details on severe weather risk categories.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n
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\"Map<\/a>
Outlook Day 1 (today)<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Map<\/a>
Outlook Day 2 (tomorrow)<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Map<\/a>
Outlook Day 3 (next day)<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Total monsoon precipitation (to date)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\"Arizona<\/a>\n\n\n\n

Monsoon data<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\n\t\t\t\n\n\"Monsoon<\/a>
Click on the image to access the current Arizona data<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\t\t\t\n\n\"Monsoon<\/a>
Click on the image to access the current Arizona data<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\t\t\t\n\n\"Monsoon<\/a>
Click on the image to access the current Arizona data<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arizona regional WRF model forecasts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"WRF\"<\/a>
Click on the image to access the Arizona WRF models<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"500mb<\/a>
500mb height, wind, vorticity
NAM<\/a> \u2013 HRRR<\/a> \u2013 GFS<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"700mb<\/a>
700mb height, wind, relative humidity
NAM<\/a> \u2013 HRRR<\/a> \u2013 GFS<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"850mb<\/a>
850mb temperature, relative humidity, wind
NAM<\/a> \u2013 HRRR<\/a> \u2013 GFS<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Southern AZ cloud cams<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Southern<\/a>
Click on the image to access the cloud cams.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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