October 2013 Pictures and September 2013 Data

September was warmer than normal. All of the average temperatures were above normal and the average temperature was 1.4°F (0.78°C) higher. There were ten 100°F (37.8°C)+ days, three above normal. The official rainfall fell short 0.63” (48.51 mm), and my house received less rainfall with 0.34” (8.64 mm). The normal is 1.29” (32.77 mm).

The hydrologic water year runs from October 1^st to September 30^th. This was the 8^th driest year on record. The Tucson airport recorded 6.69” (169.93 mm), which was 4.9” (124.46 mm below) the normal 11.59” (294.39 mm). 

The prickly pear is dying. Part of the problem maybe that a ground squirrel or other animal has burrowed under it and undermined it's root structure.

Ocotillo

 

Prickly Pear

Saguaro

September 2013 Pictures August 2013 Data

August was the 5^th hottest on record. All of the average temperatures were above normal by at least 2.1°F (1.17°C). There were eighteen 100°F (37.8°C)+ days, four above normal. The official rainfall fell short 1.91” (48.51 mm), but my house received close to the normal 2.39” (60.71 mm) at 2.30” (58.42mm). August wrapped up the second hottest summer on record.

Barrel Cactus in bloom

Ocotillo with leaves

Prickly Pear

Saguaro Cactus

July 2013 Data Minus August 2013 Pictures

Life was busy in August. I was fortunate to travel to cooler places: Monterey, California and the Canadian Arctic and Greenland.

Here is the data for July.

July brought some much-needed relief with cooler daytime temperatures and some of the monsoon moisture reached the city. The average high temperature was 99°F (37.2°C), which was 0.70°F (0.39°C) below normal. We didn’t receive as much nighttime cooling as the average low was 76.9°F (2.50°C). The official rainfall was 2.60” (66.04mm), 0.35” (8.89mm) above normal. My house received much less at 1.32” (33.53mm).

Enjoy some of my pictures from the Arctic.

July 2013 Pictures June 2013 Data

June temperatures made up for what May was missing, 100°F (37.8°C) temperatures. Every single day in June recorded triple digit temperatures to make it the HOTTEST June on record. Notice how there are now new categories on the data table that include 105°F (40.6°C) and 110°F (43.3°C) + highs.

Ocotillo

Saguaro

  I’ve lived in Tucson most of my life. Once the temperature reaches above the 105°F (40.6°C) mark, it definitely seems hot. That is the point where I switch my brain to Celsius, since mentally it doesn’t seem as bad when it is only in the 40’s. I did this most of the month since there were 18 days over that mark this month.

 

June’s average high temperature was 105.4°F (40.8°C), this was 5.10°F (2.83°C) above normal. Rainfall was non-existent at my house, but the official site received 0.03” (0.24mm).

June 2013 Pictures and May 2013 Data

Ocotillo

Prickly Pear

Saguaro

The prickly pear is looking parched and ocotillo is void of leaves. Note how the saguaro has bloomed since last month's pictures.

Saguaro Blossoms, you can see dead flower above rounded bud

May eluded the milestone 100°F (37.8°C) day. The legend states that this is the day that the ice breaks on the Santa Cruz River. Since the Santa Cruz River never has ice, this is more of a milestone in terms of television news contests for the viewers. Prizes range from cruises to Alaska to air conditioner servicing. Normally, Tucson records 4 days at or above the century degree mark in May. 

Overall May was warmer than normal. The average temperature of 69.8°F (21.0°C) was 2.8°F (1.56°C) above normal. Rainfall was miniscule at both the official site and my home at 0.01” (0.25mm). This continues the yearly deficit and adds to the drought conditions.

May 2013 Pictures and April 2013 Data

April 2013 tied with April 2012 as the 10^th warmest on record. When the last 3 April’s temperatures are combined, 2011-2013 was the 3^rd warmest on record. The highest recorded temperature for the month was 97°F (36.1°C). With only 0.12” (3.05mm) of rain at the official location, drought conditions were elevated to a serious level.

Saguaro with buds

The saguaro displayed buds at the beginning of April. The prickly pear displayed beautiful yellow blossoms.

Prickly Pear

Prickly Pear Blossoms

Ocotillo

Here are images showing three different colors of buckhorn cholla blossoms.

April 2013 Pictures and March 2013 Data

The spring brings wonderful color to the desert with blooming cactus. These blooms eventually become fruit providing food for the wildlife. Even my struggling prickly pear is showing buds.

Prickly Pear Buds

Prickly Pear

March 2013 proved to be the second warmest and ninth driest on record. This was in contrast to a cooler than normal January and February. The highest recorded temperature for the month was 94°F (34.4°C). The average high temperature for the month was 6.80°F (3.78°C) above normal at 80.9°F (27.17°C). The average low temperatures were also above normal which resulted a higher than normal overall average temperature for the month. Rainfall was virtually non-existent at the official location at 0.01” (0.25mm). At my house we received a bit more at 0.15” (3.81mm). Officially our rainfall was recorded at a deficit of 0.72” (18.29mm).

Ocotillo

Saguaro

Cholla Flowers

Prickly Pear

Prickly Pear blossoms

March 2013 Pictures and February 2013 Data

February 2013 brought a rare event to Tucson, snow! See previous post for pictures. The month started out warm, but three winter storms moved through the area during the month bringing rain and snow to higher elevations. The last winter storm on February 21^st brought a trace amount of snow to lower elevations in the Tucson area, while higher elevations received up to 3 inches (76.2 mm).

Saguaro

Ocotillo

The month finished up colder than normal with the average temperature 4.8°F (2.50°C) below normal. Rainfall at the official location was close to normal at 0.07” (1.78 mm) below normal. At my house we were slightly above normal at 0.06” (1.52 mm). 

Prickly Pear