December 2011 Pictures

December 2011 Pictures and November 2011 Data

November was cooler and wetter than normal. The average high temperature was 71.8 F (22.1 C) which was -1.7 F (-0.9 C) cooler than normal. The airport recorded 0.97" (24.64 mm) of rain for the month. This is 0.40" (10.16 mm) higher than normal. My location recorde 1.27" (32.26 mm) of rain for the month. My pictures were recorded later in the month because I wasn't home very much especially when it was still light out.

	Nov 2011	Normals	Deviation
Average High Temperature (°F)	71.8	73.5	-1.7
Average Low Temperature (°F)	46.7	46.1	0.6
Average Temperature (°F)	59.2	59.8	-0.6
Number of 100° + highs	0	0	0
Rainfall (in) official	0.97	0.57	0.40
Rainfall (in) at location	1.27
	Nov 2011	Normals	Deviation
Average High Temperature (°C)	22.1	23.1	-0.9
Average Low Temperature (°C)	8.2	7.8	0.3
Average Temperature (°C)	15.1	15.4	-0.3
Number of 100° + highs	0	0	0
Rainfall (mm) official	24.64	14.48	10.16
Rainfall (mm) at location	32.26

 

Ocotillo 12-17-11

Saguaro 12-17-11

 

 

 

 

Prickly Pear 12-17-11

November 2011 Pictures

Saguaro Nov 5, 2011

November 2011 Pictures with October 2011 Data

October was the 13th warmest on record. The average high temperature of 88.5 F (31.4 C) was 3.7 F (2.1 C) above normal. October was dry with only 0.06" (1.52 mm) of rain at the airport. My location recorded similar numbers.

Ocotillo with no leaves on it Nov. 5, 2011

Prickly Pear Nov 5, 2011 (looks a bit dry)

	Oct 2011	Normals	Deviation
Average High Temperature (°F)	88.5	84.8	3.7
Average Low Temperature (°F)	58	57.3	0.7
Average Temperature (°F)	73.3	71	2.3
Number of 100° + highs	0	0	0
Rainfall (in) official	0.06	0.89	-0.83
Rainfall (in) at location	0.05
	Oct 2011	Normals	Deviation
Average High Temperature (°C)	31.4	29.3	2.1
Average Low Temperature (°C)	14.4	14.1	0.4
Average Temperature (°C)	22.9	21.7	1.3
Number of 100° + highs	0	0	0
Rainfall (mm) official	1.52	22.61	-21.08
Rainfall (mm) at location	1.27

October 2011 Pictures

October 2011 Pictures and September 2011 Data

September 2011 started out very hot with the first 8 days recording high temperatures between 100 - 106 degrees F ( 37.8 - 41.1 C). The rainfall at the airport set a record of 5.6 inches (142.24 mm) for the month. Much of that rain, 2.84 in (72.14 mm) fell in one record breaking monsoon storm. Not all of Tucson experienced as much rain. My location only received a total of 1.23 in (31.24 mm) for the whole month.

	Sep 2011	Normals	Deviation
Average High Temperature (°F)	95.7	94.5	1.2
Average Low Temperature (°F)	69.5	68.6	0.
Average Temperature (°F)	82.6	81.6	1.0
Number of 100° + highs	8	7	1
Rainfall (in) official	5.6	1.29	4.31
Rainfall (in) at location	1.23
	Sep 2011	Normals	Deviation
Average High Temperature (°C)	35.4	34.7	0.7
Average Low Temperature (°C)	20.8	20.3	0.5
Average Temperature (°C)	28.1	27.6	0.6
Number of 100° + highs	8	7	1
Rainfall (mm) official	142.24	32.77	109.47
Rainfall (mm) at location	31.24

 

Ocotillo with leaves from rain received during the month Oct 9, 2011

Prickly Pear (looks a little healthier after some rain)

Saguaro 0ct 9, 2011

Termite trails at bottom of saguaro (common after rain)

School Equinox Pictures 9-23-11

Here are pictures obtained from our school on the Equinox 9-23-11 at 10:30 AM MST.
Latitude: 32.41675 N
Longitude: -111.01705 W
Temperature at time of pictures: 35.6 °C (96 °F)
High Temperature for day: 38°C (100.4 °F)
Low Temperature for day: 21 °C (69.8 °F)
Hours of Daylight 12 hrs 07 min 

Prickly Pear Cactus

Prickly Pear Cactus with fruit

Tall Saguaro Cactus, Brittlebush shrub, Mesquite tree in background

Barrel Cactus with flowers and fruit

Cholla Cactus with Palo verde trees in background

A different type of cholla cactus

Buffelgrass up close in bloom. Invasive Species and fire risk.

Buffelgrass along bike route by school

   

September 2011 Pictures

August 2011 marked the 2^nd warmest August on record for Tucson, AZ. The last 11 days of August were the Hottest on record with six daily record highs set or tied. The amount of rain in Tucson varies by location across the area. The official measurement at the airport was below normal and it ranked as the 34^th driest August. Rainfall at the location of the pictures was even less than the official location of the airport.

 The pictures here were taken after a week of some rain on September 18, 2011. The rainfall is not recorded in the August data, but will show up in September data.

Ocotillo on 9-18-11: Notice the leaves after the rain.

 

 

 

 

Prickly Pear on 9-18-11: Still showing signs of drought. Fruit is gone.

Saguaro Cactus: Looks a little bit fatter since it stores water in the flesh.

The National Weather Service concluded that the summer of 2011 is the 2^nd hottest summer on record. The average temperature was 87.8°F (31.0°C) which is 2.1°F (1.2°C) above normal.

Fahrenheit Data
	Aug 2011	Normals	Deviation
Average High Temperature (°F)	101.3	97.4	3.9
Average Low Temperature (°F)	77.3	73.3	4.0
Average Temperature (°F)	89.3	85.3	4.0
Number of 100° + highs	18	14	4
Rainfall (in) official	1.35	2.39	-1.04
Rainfall (in) at location	0.87
Celsius Data
	Aug 2011	Normals	Deviation
Average High Temperature (°C)	38.5	36.3	2.2
Average Low Temperature (°C)	25.2	22.9	2.2
Average Temperature (°C)	31.8	29.6	2.2
Number of 100° + highs	44	36	8
Rainfall (mm) official	34.29	60.71	-26.42
Rainfall (mm) at location	22.10

 

August 2011 Pictures

Here are the pictures for July 2010:

Prickly Pear

Ocotillo

July was the 16^th warmest on record and on July 2^nd we recorded the 5^th hottest day for July. The temperature on that day was 111°F or 43.4°C. On July 4^th we received the first of our monsoonal storms.

	Saguaro

July is the last month that “Normal” readings were based on averages calculated over the period of 1971-2000.  August averages will now be based upon new climatic “Normals” based upon the period 1981-2010. We have been hearing and reading about how our climate in Tucson is now warmer and drier. These new “Normals” reflect that trend.

For January through July 2011 the new averages compare as follows:

New Normals Based on 1981-2010 for Tucson, AZ

Period Jan 1- July 31	Year 2011	Old Normals	Old Delta	New Normals	New Delta
Average High Temperature (°C)	29.2	28.1	1.1	28.5	0.7
Average Low Temperature (°C)	12.4	12.1	0.3	12.7	-0.3
Average Temperature (°C)	20.8	20.1	0.7	20.6	0.2
Number of 100° + highs	44	36	8	42	2
Rainfall (mm)	56.39	139.95	-83.57	140.21	-83.82

 

July 2011 Pictures

June 2011 Weather Tucson

June was hot and dry in Tucson. Dewpoint temperatures reached a new average of

-4.5°C which compares to the previous average of 2.2°C. It rained on June 30^th, breaking a spell of 81 days with no rain. The last 10 days of the month saw daily highs of 41.7°C or greater including a record of 44.4°C.

Average high 39.5°C; Normal 37.9°C

Average low 20.8°C; Normal 20.0°C

22 days above 37.8°C Normal 18 days

0.06” rain 1.5mm

In October through June the average total rainfall is 6.35” we are -4.85” behind.

 Prickly Pear Cactus

Ocotillo Cactus

Saguaro Cactus

Notice the fruit on the saguaro cactus that formed from the blossom in last month's picture.