There’s no way to sugarcoat it, August was hot.
In fact, the just-completed month hit the books as the second hottest August on record in Tucson, tied with 2011, according to the National Weather Service.
And when you look at Tucson’s meteorological summer — June through August — it, too, was a near-record breaker.
The average temperature in August was 89.3 degrees, which was 4 degrees above normal. The average high temperature was 101.9 degrees, 4.5 degrees above normal, making it also tied for the second highest average high temperature for August on record.
When the mercury climbed to 110 degrees Aug. 21 it was the second hottest August day on record, just behind the 112 degrees on Aug. 1, 1993.
Two daily high temperature records were reached, 109 degrees on Aug. 5, and 110 degrees on Aug. 21.
With just 1.57 inches of rain for the month, August, normally a wet month, finished as the 45th driest on record.
The dry month has led to a so-far weak monsoon. As it stands now, Tucson would need to officially record 3.42 inches of rain by Sept. 30 to just reach our normal monsoon total of 6.08 inches. September’s normal rainfall is 1.29 inches.
So far, 2019 stands as the 21st driest monsoon, which runs from June 15 to the end of September.
Summer heat also nearing a record
When looking at the three-month meteorological summer, 2019 came in as the second hottest and 19th driest on record in Tucson, the NWS said.
The summer’s average temperature of 88.3 degrees was 2.6 degrees above normal for the three-month summer. Rainfall was way off at 2.64 inches, 2.20 inches below normal for June through August. During the three months there were 30 days where the daily high was 105 degrees or higher, the sixth highest total on record for the meteorological summer.
Looking ahead
The Climate Prediction Center is forecasting enhanced probabilities for above normal temperatures and rainfall in Tucson for September and for the fall.
That’s something to look forward to.
Photos: Tucson's 2019 monsoon
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A lightning bolt strikes in the western part of the city, part of the second of two bands of monsoon storms to roll over the area, Tucson, Ariz., August 28, 2019.
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The sunset is reflected in the rain slicked intersection of Ajo Way and Valencia Rd., during the first of two bands of monsoon storms to roll over the area, Tucson, Ariz., August 28, 2019.
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Sunset over the construction project at the former La Placita Village, near Church and Broadway downtown Tucson, Ariz., August 16, 2019.
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A disabled car sits in the flooded wash at Copper and Wilson as the waters in the wash rise around it as monsoon finally delvers some rain, Tucson, Ariz., August 10, 2019.
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A bicyclist negotiates the overflow from a wash crossing Glenn at Wilson as the monsoon finally delvers some rain, Tucson, Ariz., August 10, 2019.
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Rural Metro Fire Department personnel watch over the flooded Julian Wash at Irvington after being dispatched for a swift water rescue as monsoon finally delvers some rain, Tucson, Ariz., August 10, 2019. Rescue ended up being not needed as the subject safely walked out of the wash on their own just as the RMFD arrived.
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In a monsoon haze, the sun sets behind a ridge just west of Greasewood near Starr Pass, Tucson, Ariz., August 8, 2019.
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Bank of America Plaza and One South Church, the former UniSource Energy Tower, catch the last of the day's colorful sunlight filtered through monsoon clouds, Tucson, Ariz., August 8, 2019.
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Sunset lights the clouds over the dozens of international flags flying behind The National Law Center for Inter-American Free Trade, 440 N Bonita Ave., Tucson, Ariz., August 8, 2019.
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Monsoon clouds make a big show over the valley, but fail to deliver on the promises of rain, Tucson, Ariz., August 7, 2019.
Monsoon over Sunnyside football
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Sunnyside players get warmed up as a monsoon storm rolls in overhead during the Blue Devils' practice, Tucson, Ariz., August 6, 2019.
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Monsoon storm clouds roll over the new control tower at Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Ariz., August 3, 2019.
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A patchy monsoon storm drops some heavy, but isolated rain, on the southeast side just after sunset, Tucson, Ariz., August 1, 2019.
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A patchy monsoon storm drops two lightning bolts on the southeast side, Tucson, Ariz., August 1, 2019.
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A patchy monsoon storm throws down a lightning bolt on the southeast side, Tucson, Ariz., August 1, 2019.
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A patchy monsoon storm throws down a snaky lightning bolt on the southeast side, Tucson, Ariz., August 1, 2019.
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A patchy monsoon storm throws down a lightning bolt on the southeast side, Tucson, Ariz., August 1, 2019.
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A biker pedal through the water running down Desert Ave. and flowing across Glenn in the aftermath of monsoon downpour, Tucson, Ariz., July 31, 2019.
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Tucson Fire Department personnel extricate a woman from a car pinned against the sidewalk safety railings at culvert overflowing Glenn Street at Wilson Street in Tucson, Ariz., July 31, 2019.
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A monsoon front rolls in over the city bringing brief, but heavy rain in Tucson, Ariz., July 31, 2019.
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Monsoon sunset behind a ridge northwest of Kinney Rd., Tucson, Ariz., July 25, 2019.
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A biker heads east along Cushing St. near the Santa Cruz River under a monsoon sunset, Tucson, Ariz., July 24, 2019.
Monsoon 2019, bats take flight
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A member of the crowd gets cell phone video of the nightly exodus of thousands of Mexican free-tailed bats from under the Campbell Ave. bridge over the Rillito River, Friday, July 19, 2019, Tucson, Ariz. Friday was Bats in Flight night at the bridge, and Pima County naturalists were on hand to answer questions and guide a few all-ages bat related activities. The next scheduled Bats in Flight is August 17, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., it's free and no registration is needed.
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A falcon rides the lines running along Speedway just east of Greasewood under a monsoon sunset, Wednesday, July 17, 2019, Tucson, Ariz.
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Lighting strikes straddle a ridge in the Rincon Mountains east of Tucson, looking east from the Agua Caliente Wash at Houghton Road on Sunday, July 14, 2019, Tucson, Ariz.
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A worker from Pearson's Signs helps to lower the PPEP Inc. sign down to the ground after high winds from Saturday's monsoon storm tipped the sign over at 901 E. Benson Highway on July 15, 2019. PPEP Inc., Portable, Practical Educational Preparation, is a non-profit that provides services to empower people living in rural areas through education, health, housing, counseling, employment, job training and many others.
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A monsoon storm, the first significant one of the season, crashes a few bolts down just before the gates opened for the Annual Bloom Night at Tohono Chul Park, July 13, 2019, Tucson, Ariz.
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Monsoon sunset behind downtown, Saturday, July 6, 2019, Tucson, Ariz.
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The last bit of a monsoon storm breaks up in the sky just west of town after dropping a few sprinkles before fading away, Friday, July 5, 2019, Marana, Ariz.
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A bolt of lightning appears to hit the high-rise at 5151 E. Broadway as a monsoon cell moves over the eastern part of town, Saturday, July 6, 2019, Tucson, Ariz.
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Monsoon sunset behind downtown, Saturday, July 6, 2019, Tucson, Ariz.
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Monsoon sunset throws light on the Union Pacific Railroad tracks running under Kino Parkway at Aviation Highway, Saturday, July 6, 2019, Tucson, Ariz.
