Arizona’s Summer Was a Soaker-Now What About Winter?

Every monsoon season, we gather around the forecast and hope for the right amount of rain. Yes, this measurement is subject, particularly if, like me, you're just a casual observer of the weather. While experts have charts and data to back up their claims of a good monsoon season, we lay folk just open a window and sigh, "Yeah. We needed this."

And we definitely needed the rain.

Looking for cooler weather in Arizona? Check this out: The Top 11 Coldest Places to Spend Winter in Arizona

Was the Monsoon Season Wetter Than Normal?

This summer was glorious. Arizona actually had a wetter-than-average summer, over the monsoon season.

The National Weather Service predicted that most of the state would see above-average rainfall from July through September. The final data confirmed that we did, indeed, have a wet monsoon season this year.

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Some folks in Arizona actually prefer a warmer winter, especially when it's cold and snowy in other parts of the country. Read this: How to Survive Winter in Arizona. Hint: It's Not That Hard!

Will Arizona Have a Wet Winter This Year?

That got me wondering about our winter. Is a wet summer predictive of a wet winter, too?

Unfortunately, that's not necessarily the case. Experts at the National Weather Service say monsoon patterns and winter precipitation are driven by different climate systems. Most of Arizona's summer moisture came from tropical storms that formed off the coast of California and the Baja Peninsula. Our winter weather is typically influenced by Pacific jet streams and El Niño/La Niña conditions.

If you were hoping for a wet, cool winter, you may be out of luck. According to the Arizona State Climate Office, this winter is expected to be warmer and drier than usual.