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.

 

January 2013 Pictures and December 2012 Data

Prickly Pear

Saguaro

Ocotillo

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December 1^st through 9th was warmer than normal. The average high temperature of 76.0°F (24.4°C) was 9.6°F (5.3°C) above normal. Several storm systems moved through the area the rest of the month. These brought colder and wet weather to the area. When these extremes were averaged, the overall result was close to average readings for the entire month. Average high temperatures were 66.1°F (18.9°C), which was 1.3°F (0.72°C) above normal. The average temperature was similar, 1.5°F (0.83°C) above normal.

Rainfall at the official location was above normal for a change, 1.18” (29.97mm). This is 0.25” (6.35mm) above normal. My location was similar at 1.22” (30.99mm). The rainfall made my husband happy with his new rainwater harvesting system. However, for the first time in 8 years, I had to move my stargazing night inside after already rescheduling it twice because of cloudy weather for 2 months in a row on the nights we had scheduled.

December 2012 Pictures and November Data

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It was the 3^rd warmest and 26^th driest November on record. The first week of November recorded highs in the 80’s - lower 90’s °F (27 - 33°C). The average high temperature for November was 79.6°F (26.4°C). This was 6.1°F (3.4°C) above normal. Overall the average temperature for November was 5°F (2.8°C) above normal. This is the 3^rd warmest on record. The official rainfall was 0.03” (0.76mm), which is 0.54” (13.72mm) below normal. There was a bit more rain at my location 0.26” (6.60mm), but it was still shy of normal.

Fall 2012 was the 4^th warmest on record with the top 3 occurring in 1999, 2007, and 2001. 

Saguaro

Ocotillo

Prickly Pear

November 2012 Pictures and October 2012 Data

Ocotillo

 

Once again it was hot in Tucson. It was only the 12^th warmest October on record despite the average high temperature of 88.8°F (31.56°C). This was 4.0°F (2.22°C) above normal. It was dry with only a trace of rain at the airport and 0.04 inches (1.02 mm) at my house. The average low temperatures were close to normal. 

Prickly Pear - Notice dirt on lower pads from termites

Saguaro 

Barrel Cactus with fruit on top

October 2012 Pictures September 2012 Data

As we moved into fall, we closed out the summer with the first 9 months of 2012 registering as the 4^th warmest year on record that dates back to 1895. The average temperature for the year so far was 73.9°F (23.28°C). This was 1.6°F (0.89°C) above normal. We recorded 73 days over 100°F (37.78°C), which was 11 days above normal. Our rainfall for the first 9 months was -2.50 inches (63.5mm) below normal.

Our monthly data was close to average for September. The main exceptions were that the average low temperature was 1.3°F (0.72°C) above normal, and our rainfall was -0.91 inches (-23.11mm) below normal.

 

Prickly Pear with termite tubes

Ocotillo with a few leaves left

 

 

 

Saguaro

 

 

 

 

Termites on Saguaro

 

Termites on Prickly Pear

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

September 2012 Pictures August 2012 Data

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August was hot and dry in Tucson. It was the 4th hottest August recorded and 28th driest August. The temperature topped 105°F (41°C) for 9 days in a row. We had three record-breaking high temperature days.  The records were:

August 8^th              108°F (42.2°C)

August 12^th            109°F (42.8°C)

August 13^th            109°F (42.8°C)

Our average high temperature for August was 100.5°F (38.1°C). This is 3.1°F (1.7°C) above normal. The official rainfall measurement at the airport was -1.22 inches (-30.99mm), which was below the normal measurement of 2.39” (60.71mm). However, at my house we were right on target for normal rainfall. The only consolation to this hot August was that it was still cooler than 2011, which was our 2^nd hottest August on record.

Prickly Pear looks a little less parched

Saguaro

Ocotillo: Lots of leaves

Close-up of termites on Saguaro

August 2012 Pictures and July Data

Prickly Pear with Fruit

July 2012 was cool and wet in Tucson, AZ.  For only the second time in the last 14 months that I have been recording data, the average high temperature was below normal. The average high temperature was 97.3°F (23.4°C), which was -2.4°F

(-1.3°C) below normal. The average low temperature was close to normal at 74.2°F (23.4°C) with the normal reading of 74.4°F (23.6°C). There were 10 days over 100°F (38.8°C) which is 8 less days than normal. 

Saguaro

Ocotillo

 

The much-needed rainfall contributed to the cooler temperatures. The official rainfall at the airport was 4.13” (104.90 mm). At my location I recorded 4.03” (102.36 mm). There were two days where we received 1.39” (35.31 mm) and 1.37” (34.80 mm) in a few hours. The arrival of the summer monsoon season inspired us to start doing rainwater harvesting at our house. At this point we only have a few strategically placed trashcans to collect water off of the roof. We hope to install some large tanks and pumps soon to be able to take care of our watering needs for our small vegetable garden. Stay tuned for more pictures of our rainwater harvesting system as it develops.

Rainwater Harvesting

Record 1.37" Rainfall

The high rainfall produced more blossoms on many of our cactus. Traditionally, except for the barrel cactus, most other species only bloom in the spring.

Barrel Cactus

Jumping Cholla Cactus

Staghorn Cholla

 

 

 

 

Pincushion Cactus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harris Hawk