It's official, the 110-day long dry streak in Phoenix is over! Around 11:40pm on Wednesday (December 9th), the rain gauge at Phoenix Sky Harbor finally read something other than zero. This is the first time since August 20th that rain has been recorded at the airport.

While this was not a record-setting dry streak, it will go down as the 10th longest on record. The record longest streak without measurable rain in Phoenix stands at 160 days, December 30th, 1971 to June 6th, 1972.

Earlier this year we had a 103 day long dry streak, with no measurable rain from April 12th through July 23rd. This is only the 3rd year since records began in 1896 that there have been two dry streaks of 100 or more days.

• 1938: 107 days and 105 days, totaling 212 days
• 2006: 143 days and 105 days, totaling 248 days
• 2020: 103 days and 110 days, totaling 213 days

Enjoy the rain while it lasts!

The high temperature on December 9th hit 80º at Phoenix Sky Harbor. This temperature is 14º above average for this time of year, and just 4º away from the record of 84º set back in 1981.

This also marks the second December day this year with a high temperature of 80º+. Since 1896, there have only been 15 years (now including this year) that have seen two or more 80º+ days in December.

• 7 days with 80º+: 1980
• 5 days with 80º+: 1939, 1940, 1950
• 4 days with 80º+: 1965
• 3 days with 80º+: 1938
• 2 days with 80º+: 1917, 1946, 1949, 1977, 1981, 2003, 2010, 2017, 2020

Looking at the total number of days in the weather record for December, there have only been 63 days out of 3,853 days with a high of 80º+. In other words, these temperatures are reasonably rare.

If you don't like this December "heat", temperatures will drop back into the 60s tomorrow into the weekend as a storm system moves through the state.

The average high temperature for December 7th is 67º, but this year, Phoenix Sky Harbor hit 80º. The record for the day is 83º, which was set back in 1938.

So how rare are 80º days in December? The last time Phoenix had an 80º+ temperature in December was back in 2017, and before that it was in 2013. Since 1896, when records began in Phoenix, there have been 31 years with a high of 80º+ in December.

Another way to examine how rare this is, look at the total number of days. Out of 3,851 December days on record, only 62 of them have seen a high of 80º+. That's only 1.6% of December days!

The most number of days in December with a high of 80º+ was 7, set back in 1980.

High temperatures are forecast to be right around 80º tomorrow as well, which would make it the 2nd day this year with a high of 80º+ in December. Only 14 years have had 2 or more days with high temperatures of 80º+ in December (see list below).

• 7 days: 1980
• 5 days: 1939, 1940, 1950
• 4 days: 1965
• 3 days: 1938
• 2 days: 1917,1946,1949,1977,1981,2003,2010,2017

Do you remember what the weather was like back on August 20, 2020? If you don't, that is the last time measurable rain was recorded at Phoenix Sky Harbor. And believe it or not, this 103 day long dry streak is not the record, which stands at 160 days (no measurable rain from December 30, 1971 to June 6, 1972).

With that said, we are breaking a different record. So far this year, measurable rain has only fallen on 13 days at Phoenix Sky Harbor. The current record for the least in a year stands at 18 days in 2002. With only one month left and no rain in sight, it is looking like we will break that record this year.

This is also not the first time so far this year with a 103 day long dry streak. No measurable rain fell from April 12th through July 23rd, marking another 103-day long streak. This is only the 3rd year since records began in 1896 that there have been two dry streaks of 100 or more days.

• 1938: 107 days and 105 days, totaling 212 days
• 2006: 143 days and 105 days, totaling 248 days
• 2020: 103 days and 103 days, totaling 206 days and counting

Looking at long term forecasts, signs are pointing toward dry conditions continuing through the winter. But fingers are crossed for at least some measurable rain to end this latest dry streak.

The drought numbers just keep getting worse in Arizona. With a very dry monsoon and a continued dry fall, currently, 71.8% of the state is in Exceptional Drought, which is the highest drought classification.

This is also the highest percentage of the state in Exceptional Drought for the period of record: 2000-2020.

Unfortunately, with La Nina in place, all signs are pointing toward below-average rainfall this winter. Remember, these dry conditions will continue to result in high fire danger across the state, so use extreme caution while outdoors.

The latest drought numbers were released today (Nov 19th), and they are not good.

Currently, 32.8% of Arizona is in Exceptional Drought, which is the highest level of drought. Another 51.9% is classified as Extreme Drought. These are the worst drought numbers the state has seen since July 2002.

Currently, Phoenix Sky Harbor is sitting 2.27" below average for rainfall this year, but other locations are doing far worse. Tucson is 6.49" below average for the year (~38% of average), and Flagstaff is down 10.07"!

With La Nina in place, the latest long-term forecasts for this winter call for dry and warm conditions overall.

The temperature at Phoenix Sky Harbor soared to a high of 92º today (Mon, Nov 16th)! This undoubtedly broke the record for the day of 89º set back in 1999 and smashed several all-time records.

• Latest 90º+ day (old record: Nov 15, 1999)
• Latest 91º+ day (old record: Nov 14, 1999)
• Latest 92º+ day (old record: Nov 12, 2013)

Keep in mind, the average high temperature for this time of year in Phoenix is 75º! Yes, that is right, the high-temperature today was 17º above average.

Overall, it is looking like a cooling trend heading into the weekend, but tomorrow (Tuesday) will be another hot day with high temperatures nearing the 90º mark yet again.

If you looked out the window today (Nov 9th) it seemed like a nice fall day. If you opened the window or walked outside, it felt more like the middle of September. The high in Phoenix topped out at 99º, which shattered a number of records.

First and foremost, this broke the record for the hottest November day on record. The old record was 96º and was set in 1924, 2009, and 2020. This also broke the record for the latest 99º+ high temperature on record, with the old record being Oct 27th, 2016. And last but certainly not least, it smashed the old record high for the day of 93º set back in 2007.

Just to note, the average high temperature for this time of year is 80º.

There is relief in sight, with a major cool down coming to the Valley of the Sun this weekend with forecast high temperatures dropping into the low 70s to upper 60s!