About

Tucson is on the northern part of the Sonaran Desert.  Even though the city averages over 10″ of rain per year, the sandy soil and layer of caliche just below the surface cause rain to run off quickly.  As a result of having more rain than many deserts, and the mild winters, the Tucson area is full of wildlife and is famous for it’s variety of birds.

The weather is mild in the winter and hot in the Summer.  Most of the yearly rain falls during Monsoon.  Monsoon means “Seasonal Wind” and the normal weather pattern for July, August and September brings in a lot of moisture from the Gulf of California and the Gulf of Mexico.  That moisture invariably bubbles into thunderstorms in the afternoon heat.  While most storms are not severe, flash flooding can be dangerous and the lightning spectacular.  High winds from micro-bursts can be a problem and rarely large hail.

It does snow in Tucson, although that is more rare than hail.  However, the nearby mountains can get buried in heavy snows, depending on the year.  El Nino Winters can be especially dramatic when it comes to snow depth in the local mountains.  Mt. Lemmon is less than an hour drive to the 9,000+ foot summit where you will find the southern most developed ski area in North America;  Ski Valley.

Last and not least (why do people say that?), in fact it’s most, Tucson has tons of Sun.  Rarely is it cloudy all day and frequently it is sunny all day… for days.  Tucson also has the most beautiful sunsets you have ever witnessed.  Ever.  And they aren’t just once in awhile.  It’s like almost every night.

The dry air (aside from the Monsoon) and clear skies make southern Arizona ideal for observatories, such as the famous Kitt Peak Observatory.

I’m just scratching the surface here (and rambling a bit).  Stay tuned to the web site, on Twitter and Facebook as we  explore and discuss all things Tucson Weather.