2012 Summary_February 2013 Pictures_January 2013 Data

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Year-End Summary of 2012

2012 tied 1989 for the warmest year on record in Tucson, Arizona. The yearly average temperature for these two years was 71.4°F (21.9°C). These records reach back to 1894.  2012 was the 14^th straight year of above normal temperatures. It was also the 18^th driest year on record with 7.91” (200.91mm). Other noteworthy headlines for 2012 were:

• April 22^nd was the second earliest date to reach triple digits of 100°F (37.8°C).
• There were 73 days with triple digit highs (100°F or 37.8°C) the 11^th highest ever recorded

• January along with summer and fall were among the hottest ever recorded.

Saguaro 3-Feb-13

Ocotillo 3-Feb-13

Prickly Pear 3-Feb-13

January 2013 Data

After a record-breaking warm year in 2012, January brought Tucson records of the opposite extreme. The first half of January was the 4^th January 1st-16th on record. However, the second half of the month was the 10^th warmest on record. A record low of 17°F (-8.3°C) was recorded on January 15^th.

Overall January ended up colder and drier than normal. The average high temperature of 63.2°F (18.6°C) was -2.3°F (-1.3°C) below normal, and our average low of 36.5°F (2.5°C) was -3.3°F (-1.8°C) lower than normal. Rainfall at the official location was 0.81” (20.57mm). This was below normal by -0.13” (-3.30mm). Rainfall at my location was above the normal 0.94”. I recorded 1.02” (25.91mm) in our rain gauge.