Posted on 10/01/2014 6:30:35 PM PDT by SandRat
SIERRA VISTA — Pelted by the remnants of not one, but two tropical storms in September, Cochise County ended a wet summer with gusto, making it a banner monsoon for rainfall totals.
After receiving just over an inch of rain from moisture tied to Tropical Storm Norbert, Sierra Vista saw more than 3 inches within a day when the remnants of Tropical Storm Odile took a beeline through Cochise County. These deluges helped nudge Sierra Vista’s monsoon total to 15.09 inches, as measured at the fire station on Fry Boulevard, making it the wettest monsoon in the National Weather Service records dating back to 1982.
Carl Cerniglia, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Tucson, said these totals are as of Sept. 24, since the complete monsoon report is not yet available. The numbers will likely not change much, as the monsoon officially ended Sept. 30 and there has been no heavy rainfall in the area since Sept. 24.
Cerniglia said the next closest years for Sierra Vista were 1988 and 1983, when the Sierra Vista fire station recorded 14.94 inches and 14.98 inches, respectively. He said it’s safe to say 2014 was Sierra Vista’s wettest monsoon in the weather service records, though the unique storms certainly boosted the totals.
While Bisbee set no such record, its monsoon rainfall total actually exceeded Sierra Vista’s. Between June 15 and Sept. 24, Bisbee got 17.19 inches of rain.
“Yea, that got wet,” Cerniglia said.
The total is not surprising, considering the extent of damage to streets, retaining walls and infrastructure seen in Bisbee due to Odile, prompting the city to declare a local state of emergency and request financial aid.
But that’s short of Bisbee’s highest totals, with 2006 bringing the community 18.86 inches and 1986 logging 19.68.
This year’s rainfall crushed the 30-year averages for Sierra Vista and Bisbee, which are 8.35 inches and 10.49 inches. Douglas beat its average of 7.73 inches, too, logging a total of 12.92 inches during the monsoon.
Spared from the moisture carried through by Odile, Tucson recorded 6.08 inches during the monsoon, which barely outpaced its average of 5.88 inches.
Monsoon rainfall is highly localized, so readings from different locations even within the same city can show a high variance in totals. To take a look at daily data collected by citizen scientists throughout Arizona and Cochise County, go to www.rainlog.org.
Hope for some winter rain
Last year brought very little winter rain in Cochise County, which once again made conditions ripe for wildfires, as the growth that flourished with summer rains turned tinder-dry over the winter months.
Though it’s tough to tell, conditions look to be shaping up for a weak El Niño this year, which should bring in average winter rains, Cerniglia said.
An El Niño hasn’t been officially declared yet but the warming of Pacific Ocean water near the Equator typically leads to wetter winters in Arizona.
As for the short-term, there are no new storms on the horizon.
“Basically it looks just warm and dry,” Cerniglia said.
For a video showcasing the local impact of Odile, access this QR code or log on to svherald.com.
Monsoon rainfall at a glance (in inches)
Bisbee
2011 - 10.67
2012 - 8.17
2013 - 11.57
2014* - 17.19
Sierra Vista
2011 - 7.03
2012 - 7.76
2013 - 11.44
2014* - 15.09
*As of Sept. 24.
Got your gollashes on?
Please send the next storm to SoCal.
Amen.
Am I the only one dying of allergies right now? (Sudafed is the only thing holding me together.)
No.
Allergies haven’t hit me yet.
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