By John Simpson
The month of September was slightly warmer than average as the Tucson airport recorded the 32nd warmest September on record. The high temperatures were slightly below average, but the nighttime lows were above average, resulting in the overall monthly temperature to be 0.6 degrees warmer than the 30-year average.
Rainfall for the month of September was plentiful for Vail. Tropical moisture combined with an early Pacific storm system brought much-needed rain to the area from the 22nd to the 25th. For the month, I recorded 3.98” of rain in central Del Lago, which is well above my 9-year average of 2.22” and my second wettest September this decade. The Tucson airport recorded 2.42,” well above its 30-year average of 1.29.” Vail was a hot spot for the Tucson region for September rainfall with the New Tucson and Corona areas reporting over 5 inches of rain. Much of the rest of Vail reported between 2.5 and 4.5” of rain with the heavier amounts in the central region from Corona, up Wentworth and Camino Loma Alta and the lower amounts in Rita Ranch and Mescal. Even though September was very wet, the total monsoonal rainfall (June 15-September 30) was still below average for much of the area, although not by much. I recorded 6.68” which is below my 9-year average of 7.66” and the second driest monsoon this decade. The Tucson airport recorded 5.06” which is below its 30-year average of 6.08.” Even though 2019 was a relatively dry monsoon, the Airport’s average so far this decade is 6.62” which is well above the 30-year average. Monsoon rainfall totals for other areas in Vail and across the state are listed below. As I stated in last month’s article, areas north of Tucson struggled with rainfall this monsoon season. In fact, Phoenix recorded its 5th driest on record and Flagstaff its driest on record.
Monsoon Rainfall (June 15 – September 30) Rainfall in Inches
Mescal 5-6 inches *
Civano 5-6 inches *
I-10 & Kolb 5.5 inches *
Central Del Lago 6.5 – 7 inches *
Whisper Ranch 7-7.5 inches *
Coyote Creek 6.5 inches *
Cienega Creek / Colossal Cave (East) 6-7 inches *
New Tucson 8-10 inches *
Green Valley 4-8 inches *
Tucson Airport 5.06 inches
Phoenix Airport 0.66 inches **
Flagstaff Airport 2.08 inches ***
* Denotes unofficial rainlog.org reports.
** Phoenix airport has 5th driest monsoon season on record.
*** Flagstaff airport has driest monsoon season on record.
