Is this year's monsoon season wetter than normal?

[Pretzelogik]

Originally Posted by coolmib

What do you guys think?

In weather...there is no normal...."normal" is a fignewton of some statisticians computation...mother nature does whatever she wants.

[Valley Native]

We're not officially done with the monsoon until September 30th, so maybe we should wait until then to give a more accurate report. So far, however, official rainfall at Sky Harbor has been slightly above normal since the season started ... and the forecasters were actually correct (which is pretty rare). Back in June, they predicted slightly above normal precipitation this summer. Average rainfall in Phoenix for the summer monsoon is 2.71 inches, and the official rainfall thus far has been exactly three inches. Overall, yes, a much more defined monsoon than last year.

[locolobo13]

Normal is the average +/- 3 standard deviations.

But the last couple of weeks have been nice.

[RCR]

Unfortunately it is only the third of the last 10 seasons to have above average rainfall and we are still below average for the year. Keep it coming.....

[S. Chris Webb]

Parts of the Valley received FAR more rain than others. Almost every time our back yard rain gauge received rain, a few parts of the Valley received none, and some other parts received far more. Last night we got .04" and one gauge in N. Central Phoenix received a whopping .16" in a small amount of time, but the Valley was predominantly dry. Another time one reporting station in Cave Creek received 3" and we only received .04". The SE Valley seemed to get more days of rain overall this season than other parts of the Valley.

My favorite part of having a gauge & reporting rainfalls to Cocorah's - getting to see how our area's rainfall stacked up to the rest of the Valley.

[Finger Laker]

Originally Posted by sunluv

If this summer's monsoon was wet, I'd hate to experience a dry one...not much here in the west valley/avondale. As seems the norm, the east valley apparently gets quite a bit more rain.

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Really? Just out to your southwest we have had over 4 inches this summer. We rarely get more than an inch in most years.

Originally Posted by LBTRS

much more so than last year in my area.

I'm in goodyear somewhere between Ponderosa & LBTRS and also have received a ton of rain so far this year - it's been great and much needed

Even aside from the big storms, there have been quite a few times where we have gotten sprinkles and light showers - a couple times i was able to go into the backyard and play with my kids in the light rain - great stuff

Definitely the most active I remember in some time - although given how the past few have been duds, it may not be much above "normal" - but definitely present

[amatrine]

I would say this has been the most HUMID mosoon I have ever seem since the early 80's.

As far as rain, I would say closer to normal. The last 12 years have been real dry. This feels more like the 90's monsoon weather, with more humidity!

[Xica_da_Silva]

Having lived in Phoenix now for about 10 years, I've never seen so much monsoon rain since moving out here! Love it! I grew up in South Florida so the humidity doesn't bother me one bit. Dry or humid- I'm fine with either.

I live in Coronado Historic District, and unlike last year which was all dust and no rain, this year we've consistently had the rain clouds come 'inland' to us. As an avid gardener, I love what the fresh rain water has done for all my various plants and grass! I've never seen it so green as it is now! My only regret is that I don't currently have a rain harvesting system set-up...oh well, maybe next year. I wonder if this means we'll have a spectacular spring season of wildflowers out in the Superstitions this year? Or maybe that depends more on the winter rain? Hmmm...

The only bad thing - the weeds are out of control in my backyard and on the sides! And I've generally been keeping up with them throughout the summer but they're winning right now. I mean, they're mocking me! lol. Since I don't like to use herbicides near my garden area, unfortunately, I'm going to have to pull em by hand! Yuk.

[Ponderosa]

Dewpoints are back in the 40s and falling. Monsoon is gone! Hallelujah! I am so looking forward to cool mornings again.

[sunluv]

Originally Posted by Finger Laker

I'm in goodyear somewhere between Ponderosa & LBTRS and also have received a ton of rain so far this year - it's been great and much needed

Nearby in Avondale facing Goodyear I could watch the regular storms over Goodyear, mostly missing Avondale and other areas.

We're not officially done with the monsoon until September 30th, so maybe we should wait until then to give a more accurate report

Oh please; we have a good idea by now.