It may not feel like it, but today is the official start of the monsoon season in Arizona. That’s when seasonal storms come off the Gulf of Mexico bringing needed rain to Arizona’s deserts and high country.
These monsoon storms bring everything from flash flooding to severe dust storms to lightning-caused wildfires.
National Weather Service meteorologist Austin Jamison says to expect normal June weather statewide, with no chances for rain.
“We’re looking at conditions that will be only a degree or two, perhaps three above normal — but pretty typical conditions for June, with highs generally in the 105-107 range, might say 104-107 for really the whole week,” Jamison said. "Just because the calendar crosses over on the 15 doesn't mean all of a sudden now we're going to have storms all over the map. It'll take some time to get things going."
In the high country, highs will reach the upper 70s and low 80s, but there’s still no rain in the forecast.
Matt Pace, a meteorologist with the Air Quality Division of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, joined The Show to talk about how this year’s monsoon season.