Late summer heat grips Tucson, but rain on horizon

Aug 04, 2023

A Northwest Fire District firefighter hydrates while on the scene of a fire at Peach Valley mobile home park involving two trailers on Aug. 2.

Tucson could be looking at another record-breaking week of hot temperatures early this week, but heading into the weekend greater chances for rain could help cool things down, the National Weather Service in Tucson says.

The weather service has Tucson and the surrounding are under an excessive heat warning that’s effective until 9 p.m. Tuesday. The warning includes Green Valley, Marana and Vail. It advises residents to take precautions, like staying inside as much as possible and wearing lightweight and loose-fitting clothing, due to near-record temperatures.

The forecast for both Monday and Tuesday called for highs of 109 degrees, surpassing the previous records of 107 degrees, said Aaron Hardin, a meteorologist at the weather service.

Monday’s high ended up topping out just as forecasted, at 109.

For context, the average temperature for this time of year typically hovers around 98.

Temperatures are expected to ease slightly by Wednesday. The expected high that day is 104 degrees, but still remaining well above the seasonal norm.

However, there’s a chance the week holds more than just record-breaking heat.

The forecast also allows for a 20-30% chance of isolated storms Tuesday, but high pressure over the region is suppressing larger storm activity.

Storms are expected to gain strength and potential coverage as the week progresses. The most significant chance for rain here occurs on Thursday and Friday.

As the 2023 monsoon season moves towards its end on Sept. 30, Tucson has received 4.33 inches of rainfall at the airport, where official weather data is collected. The rainfall total here so far is slightly above the average of 4.15 inches for this time of year.

However, other areas, like Nogales, have experienced below-average monsoon activity, with 4.09 inches so far. Normal rainfall there is usually 7.72 inches at this point in the year.

A man walks at the intersection of Stone Ave. and Pennington Street as a monsoon storm passes over downtown Tucson on August 21, 2023.

People walk near the Joel D. Valdez Main Library as a monsoon storm passes over downtown Tucson on August 21, 2023.

A woman stands at the intersection of Stone Ave. and Pennington Street as a monsoon storm passes over downtown Tucson on August 21, 2023.

A woman uses an umbrella to shield herself from rain as a monsoon storm passes over downtown Tucson. on August 21, 2023.

A FedEx jet takes off from Tucson, Ariz., International Airport with a rainbow background from a monsoon storm that had some patchy rain, wind and lightning in the valley starting just before sunset, August 10, 2023.

A monsoon storm cloud is caught in the sunset behind a stand of saguaros on the west side of Tumamoc Hill, Tucson Ariz., August 10, 2023. The storm threw down some widely scattered rain, wind and lightning around metro Tucson.

A rainbow arcs over the eastern sky behind a stand of saguaros along north Campbell Avenue, part of the scattered monsoon storm that rumbled over Tucson, Ariz., August 8, 2023.

Clouds swirl over a sculpture on the corner of Campbell Avenue and Skyline Drive as part of a scattered monsoon storm drops over the Santa Catalina foothills, Tucson, Ariz., August 8, 2023.

The bronze life size statue at Steven's Plaza dances under the dark monsoon sky Tuesday on the corner of N Fourth Ave and E Ninth St., Tucson, Ariz., August 8, 2023.

Joey Gaxiola, left, and Jasmine Gaxiola use an umbrella to take cover outside of Hotel Congress during the light showers late afternoon, Tuesday on E Congress St., Tucson, Ariz., August 8, 2023.

Pedestrians wait at the Broadway and 4th Ave bus stop as storm clouds form and the weather drops out of triple digits an ends a record long heat streak in Tucson, Ariz., August 8, 2023.

Late afternoon traffic is steady as storm clouds hang over E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, Ariz., before the light rainfall starts, August 8, 2023.

A composite of nine images over about 30 minutes of lightning strikes from a monsoon storm blowing in from the east over the flight line at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Ariz., July 29, 2023.

Multiple lightning strikes from a very electric monsoon storm blowing in from the east over the flight line at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Ariz., July 29, 2023.

A monsoon storm throws a bolt of lightning over the cityscape of Tucson, Ariz., July 28, 2023. The storm swept through shortly before sunset and snapped utility poles, downed power lines in addition dropping rain and lightning through out the evening.

A Tucson Police officer crosses Golf Links Road by one of the multiple utility poles snapped off near Mann Avenue in the monsoon storm that swept through Tucson, Ariz., July 28, 2023.

Emergency personnel walk by one of multiple utility poles snapped off along Golf Links Road near Mann Avenue in the monsoon storm that swept through Tucson, Ariz., July 28, 2023.

Lightning strikes over the mountains in Catalina as the sun begins to set during the storm in Tucson, Ariz., July 26, 2023.

The train rides underneath a big rainbow that stretches across N. Toole Ave., Tucson, Ariz., after the first wave of rainfall, July 26, 2023.

Two bolts from an early evening monsoon storm flash over the state and federal prisons south of Tucson, Ariz., July 25, 2023. Patchy rains accompanied the storm.

Lightning strikes in the Catalina Mountain foothills in a rain cell on the northwest side of Tucson, Ariz., July 25, 2023. The storm surrounded the central part of the valley, mainly moving through sections south and southeast of the city.

Bolts from an early evening monsoon storm strike south of the state and federal prisons along Wilmot Road, Tucson, Ariz., July 25, 2023.

An arcing bolt of lightning finds the ground near the state and federal prison complexes south of Tucson, Ariz., July 25, 2023, as a monsoon storm drops some scattered rain through the valley.

A composite of five images shows multiple lightning strikes in a ten minute span as a monsoon storm rolls over the state and federal prisons south of Tucson, Ariz., July 25, 2023.

Rain clouds hang over the construction site on N. Fourth Ave. before the start of a big downpour in Tucson, Ariz., July 23, 2023.

Cars drive down E. Broadway Blvd. Tucson, Ariz. as rain falls steadily, July 23, 2023.

A heavy stream of rain hits the parking lot as customers wait in their cars for the storm to pass at S. Park Ave, Tucson, Ariz., July 23, 2023.

The sky goes red as a monsoon storm slowly rolls over downtown, Tucson, Ariz., July 21, 2023, with a little bit of lightning. Lighting, wind and a little rain over the central part of the city, with most of the storm hitting just to the south.

Lightning and a monsoon storm puts a bit a damper on Free Film Fridays delaying the start of the night’s feature, Clueless, at Hotel McCoy, 720 W. Silverlake Rd., Tucson, Ariz., July 21, 2023. The film was shown, but the pool was off limits.

Lightning strikes over downtown, Tucson, Ariz., July 21, 2023, as a monsoon storm rolls over the valley. Again the rain was mostly to the south of the city, with bands on the eastern edge along the Rincon foothills.

A lightning bolt hits northwest of Gates Pass, one of the last several scattered rain cells at the tail-end of a monsoon storm that skirted south of Tucson, Ariz., July 19, 2023. The largest part of the cell slipped south of town, dropping rain and sporadic lightning in Tucson Estates and west along Ajo Highway.

Aurora Apodaca, left, lets out a laugh as she plays in the aftermath of a monsoon storm with Oscar Stump on the west side of Tucson Monday afternoon.

Laura Stump helps her daughter, Magda, dip her feet in the aftermath of a monsoon storm on the west side of Tucson Monday afternoon.

People use a plastic garbage bag to shield themselves from the monsoon storm as they make their way to a bus stop along St. Mary’s Road on Monday afternoon.

People use a plastic garbage bag to shield themselves from the monsoon storm as they make their way to a bus stop along St. Mary’s Road on Monday afternoon.

A man walks along St. Mary’s Road as a monsoon storm finally makes an appearance in Tucson on Monday afternoon.

Ruth Estrada handles the task of tying while her husband Josh gets a bucket full for the next bag as the couple get ready for the rains at the city’s sandbag site on the east parking lot of Hi Corbett Field, Tucson, Ariz., July 13, 2023. There’s a limit of 10 bags per vehicle and baggers need to bring their own shovels. Pima County has a 20 bag limit at their 11 sites through out the area: 16091 W. Universal Ranch Rd. —fire station in Arivaca; E. Snyder Rd. and N .Lason Ln.; E. Carter Canyon Rd. and N. Sabino Canyon Parkway — Mt. Lemmon; 3885 E. Golder Ranch Dr. — fire station in Catalina; N. Pima Canyon Dr. and E. Ina Rd.; E. Dawson Rd. and S. County Club Rd.; 1313 S. Mission Road — Pima County Mission Yard; S. Camino Verde and W. Ajo Hwy. — fire station; Trico Rd. and Silverbell Rd. — fire station; 6625 N. Sandario Rd. — fire station; N. La Canada Dr. and Paseo Del Chino in Green Valley.

Tony Burton ties off one of his freshly filled sandbags from the city’s self-serve site on the east side of Hi Corbett Field, Tucson, Ariz., July 13, 2023, in anticipation of upcoming monsoon storms.

Lightning strikes at the Pima County Fairgrounds as the first real monsoon storm of the season rolls over the southeastern part of the area, Tucson, Ariz., July 11, 2023. Heavy rain also fell over much of the Vail area.

A twisty bolt of lightning hits near the Pima County Fairgrounds as the first monsoon moisture of the season rolls over the southeastern part of the valley, Tucson, Ariz., July 11, 2023.

A bolt of lightning hits south of the Pima County Fairgrounds as the first significant monsoon storm of the year rolls over the area south and east of Tucson, Ariz., July 11, 2023.

Sun sets behind the a saguaro near Greasewood Road and Anklam Road with a few scattered clouds as backdrop, the first signs of monsoon moving into the area, Tucson, Ariz., July 11, 2023.

Eddie Celaya is a breaking news reporter and host of the “Here Weed Go!” podcast. He graduated from Pima Community College and the University of Arizona and has been with the Arizona Daily Star since May 2019.

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