This winter season (2021-2022), something happened that has not occurred since weather records began in 1896!

Measurable rain was recorded on Christmas Day, Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day! The old "record" was three of the four big holidays in the same season set in 1941, 1959, and 2016.

If you like rain, this was certainly a nice change!

Nothing beats fun weather facts, and here's an interesting one! Since Phoenix weather records began in 1896, measurable rain has never fallen on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day in the same season!

In fact, measurable rain has only been recorded on at least three of the "Big 4" three times.

This year (2021) it is possible we could break the record and have the first year with measurable rain on all four days! Phoenix already recorded a record-setting 1" of rain on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day managed to get another 0.01". There is a good chance of rain on New Year's Eve but the trick will be New Year's Day as rain chances will quickly come to an end around midnight. Can we keep the rain going just a few hours longer? Time will tell!

At the very least, this year will likely join the ranks and become the 4th time rain has fallen on at least three of the big holidays.

Christmas Eve 2021 will go down in the record books as the wettest since records began in 1896! Phoenix Sky Harbor measured 1.00" of rain, breaking the old record of 0.93" set back in 1944.

This marks only the 13th time measurable rain has fallen on Christmas Eve in Phoenix!

If you like rain, this was certainly a nice present from Mother Nature!

It rained! Around 7:35 pm on December 9th, the rain gauge at Phoenix Sky Harbor measured the first 0.01" since October 11th!

While this dry streak certainly felt like a long one, it is nowhere near the record, which stands at 160 days (no rain from December 30, 1971 through June 6, 1972).

As for rainfall totals with this past storm, Phoenix Sky Harbor officially picked up 0.35", bringing the yearly total to 5.93". The year-to-date average is 6.71", so we still have some work to do before the end of the year.

It might be December, but this afternoon the high was 85º, which is the average high we usually see at the end of October! This high also broke the record for the day, with the old record being 83º set in 1949.

Temperatures at or above 85º in December are very rare. In fact, there have only been three other times since 1896 where the high in December was 85º+. It happened two times in 1980 (86º on December 16th and 85º on December 26th) and one time in 1950 (87º on December 10th).

There is good news on the horizon with slightly cooler temperatures, albeit still above average, moving into the weather picture by the weekend.

On the last day of November in Phoenix, the high was 80º, making it the 25th day during the month with a high of 80º or higher. This breaks the record for the most 80º+ days during the month. The old record was 24 days set back in 1949!

The top years for November include: 25 days: 2021 24 days: 1949 23 days: 2017 21 days: 1932 20 days: 2012, 1981, 1954

As for the least number of days with a high of 80º+ in November, that record is zero and has happened 4 times (1920, 1938, 1957 and 2000).

Also, if you are keeping track, the high of 80º on November 30th was 10º above the average for this time of year and marks the 191st above-average high temperature day so far this year. Some good news, this is better than last year, as at this same time in 2020, we were at 224 days that recorded an above-average high.

The low temperature at Phoenix Sky Harbor bottomed out at 49º during the morning of Sunday, November 28th. This low temperature marks the first time this fall with a low below 50 degrees.

If you thought it was a little late, you would be right; this year ties as the fourth latest on record. The latest on record is December 7th, which occurred in 2017. On the flip side, the earliest on record is September 20th, which occurred in 1965.

So is the first below 50 degree low temperature of the spring season getting later? Looking at data from 1896 to current (graph above), the answer is yes. The 30-year rolling average in 1925 had the first below 50-degree day occurring around October 17th. Using the last 30 years (including this year), the average is around November 13th.

During the early morning hours of November 23rd, cloud cover overhead made temperatures stay warm overnight, with a low at Phoenix Sky Harbor coming in at 64º.

Not only is this 13º above the average low for this time of year, but it also broke the record for the warmest low temperature for November 23rd. The old record was 60º set in 1965 and 1933.