El Niño, Climate Change, + Crazy Weather! Has the Monsoon Come to Arizona?

If you've lived in Arizona long enough to appreciate and understand the rhythm of our seasons, you share the deep relief we feel as the monsoon rains settle in.

Every year I hear it over and over.

This is the HOTTEST summer, ever.

It's never been this hot before.

I'm gonna die, I'm sweating so much!!

This year we may not be imagining things. Yahoo News recently shared an article with the headline "World just sweltered through its "hottest week on record," U.N. says".

Excessive Heat Warnings in Arizona

We're still reeling from the intense heat that seemed to linger across Arizona. I just checked the temperature in Phoenix. As I write this, they have an excessive heat warning, and they're looking at temperatures from 103 to 109 degrees all week long.

Cochise County was looking at temps in that range last week, and we were wondering when and if the summer monsoon would ever get here.

Get our free mobile app

Southeastern Arizona Welcomes the Summer Monsoon

Just like that, the summer skies eclipse that relentless cerulean blue with heavy storm clouds. We watch and wait as the monsoons build, teasing us with rumblings of thunder. The air cools and we hold our breath as the stillness finally gives way to fat, beautiful raindrops.

It's unfortunate all of Arizona doesn't get to experience the summer monsoon at the same time. Phoenix and the surrounding area are pining for relief from the heat. Tucson is watching the skies, waiting for their chance to enjoy this summer spectacular.

El Nino and the Summer Monsoon

Dire predictions of the El Niño changing, delaying, or sidelining the summer monsoon have been circulating for months. Even Weather.gov is giving us even chances that just about anything could happen this year.

Mentions of changing patterns, global climate change and more are making this year especially difficult to predict.

Are the Monsoons Here?

In Cochise County, the summer monsoon seems to have settled in, for the moment, anyway. As we've seen in years past, a good start doesn't always guarantee a prolific or sustained monsoon season.

Today, at least, the skies looked promising. For now, I'm going to make myself some iced tea, settle myself under the porch and watch the show roll in.