December in Tucson was colder and wetter than normal. Below normal temperatures
occurred for the majority of the month. At the end of the month highs were above
normal for a few days going into the new year. The average high temperature was 60.4
F (15.8 C) which is -4.4 F (-2.4 C) below normal. The average low temperature was
37.4 F (3.0 C). This is -1.7 F (-0.9 C) below normal. This made it the 20th coldest
December on record that tied with a record in 1897.
A few different rain storms brought a total of 2.03" (51.56 mm) of rain to the
official weather service site at the airport. At my location we received 2.20"
(55.88 mm) of rain. In one day we received 1.24" (31.50mm) at my site. I have never
received so much rain before and was thankful my rain gauge had an overflow basin.
We were also grateful that none of our saguaros fell over in the rain. The last time
we received 1.0" of rain in a day we lost a gigantic saguaro in our yard.
