The summer rains in Tucson are monsoons. There is some dispute as to when they start (June 15-September 15, or 55 degree dewpoint for 3 days in a row), but they are always a topic of conversation here.

The mountains surrounding the city bounce the storms around so one area might get 2-4 inches while another doesn’t get a drop. Damaging winds can destroy dozens of trees and leave no issues less than a mile away.

Monsoons are usually at least 50% of our annual rainfall so they are really important. In the past couple of years, we had one with not even an inch of rain and another with over 12. Somewhere between 5 and 6 is pretty typical over the course of the season.

So, we are now on monsoon watch. Every afternoon we look to the skies and hope that the rain falls. Not too much, not crazy thunderstorms, but the rain that keeps the desert thriving.