'12 in a dead heat for hottest year in Tucson records

Doug Kreutz Arizona Daily Star

We're all too familiar with heat in these parts - but now we must warm up to the idea that 2012 is likely to tie the mark for the hottest year on record in Tucson.

Tucson rainfall 3.74 inches below normal

Doug Kreutz Arizona Daily Star

Into each life some rain must fall - unless you've been living in Tucson in recent months.

Concrete, pavement making Tucson hotter - and experts say it's getting worse

Tony Davis Arizona Daily Star

No, it's not your imagination. It's getting hotter every year - and scientists predict the urban heat island effect, in which more buildings and pavement cause temperatures to rise, will only get worse.

Rainfall was just average - but hey, we'll take it

Tom Beal Arizona Daily Star

This summer's monsoon seemed like a return to the good old days, even though rain totals were simply average throughout most of the Tucson region.

Rains bring on bumper crop of mushrooms, but wise just to admire 'em

Doug Kreutz Arizona Daily Star

Drenching monsoon rains have brought a bumper crop of mushrooms to mountain forests around Tucson - a boon for fungi fanciers but a poison peril for anyone who bites into a toxic species.

Several Pima County roads still closed today

Arizona Daily Star

Here is a list of road closures in Pima County as well as area where motorists should be cautious driving across washes. It was updated at 8 a.m. Tuesday.

Tucson monsoon: Monday's rain totals

Kori Rumore / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson International Airport, the city's official recording site, picked up its first measurable September 2012 rainfall Monday — 0.27 inches.

Woman found dead in car swept away in flooded wash

By Alexis Huicochea ARIZONA DAILY STAR

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said a woman who was swept away in a flooded wash early Friday has been found dead inside her car on the northwest side.

Tucson monsoon: Rain totals through 7 a.m.

Kori Rumore / Arizona Daily Star

According to Pima County Regional Flood Control Distric gauges, an area southwest of Tucson had 24-hour rain totals measuring 2 to 3 inches through 7 a.m. Friday.

Storm leaves several motorists, students stranded in Tucson

Arizona Daily Star

A thunderstorm rolled into the Tucson-area Thursday afternoon and dumped heavy rain in portions of the city flooding roads and stranding motorists.

Tucson monsoon: August weather roundup

Kori Rumore / Arizona Daily Star

Here are a few conclusions from the National Weather Service, Tucson Weather Forecast Office about the eighth month's weather observations.

Storms expected to hit Tucson-area; heaviest rain in western Pima County

Carmen Duarte, Arizona Daily Star

Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop Sunday afternoon in the Tucson-area and western Pima County.

Storms spawn lush riverbed growth

Doug Kreutz Arizona Daily Star

Some sandy riverbeds in the Tucson area look almost like farm fields this month - cloaked with what a Pima County official called a "bumper crop" of monsoon-spawned vegetation.

TEP: Storm-related repairs top $5 million this year

David Wichner Arizona Daily Star

Tucson Electric Power Co. spent more than $5 million on storm-related emergency repairs this year through July - not including a major early-August storm that downed more than a dozen power poles on the south side.

Tucson monsoon: Updated rain totals through 11:30 p.m. Wednesday

Kori Rumore / Arizona Daily Star

Here are some updated rain totals. Tucson International Airport, the city's official recording site, picked up 0.74" of precipitation between Tuesday and 11:30 p.m. Wednesday. A Pima County Regional Flood Control District gauge on Catalina Hi…

Tucson monsoon: Sunday's rain totals

Kori Rumore / Arizona Daily Star

An impressive cloud formation moved into Tucson from Cochise County around 7 p.m. last night, and was shortly followed by a storm that left impressive rain totals.

Storms head toward Tucson, flood Nogales

Veronica M. Cruz, Arizona Daily Star

Heavy rainfall has caused several city streets in Nogales to flood and city officials are asking Nogales residents to stay indoors and off the road to prevent back ups and problems.

Tucson monsoon: Tuesday's rain totals

Kori Rumore / Arizona Daily Star

There were several impressive rain totals around the Tucson metro area last night.

Storm knocks out power to small number of Tucsonans

Arizona Daily Star

About 1,600 customers lost power this evening after thunderstorms rolled through the Tucson area, according to Tucson Electric Power.

Tucson monsoon: July's lightning totals

Kori Rumore / Arizona Daily Star

It might look like a lost piece of art by Jackson Pollock, but this colorful map actually shows data. Specifically, it shows the location of every lightning strike from July 2012.

Tucson monsoon: Wednesday's rain totals

Kori Rumore / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson International Airport, the city's official recording site, picked up just a trace of rain Wednesday. Most of the area's Pima County Regional Flood Control District gauges saw no rain.

Summer heat record eludes Tucson

Doug Kreutz Arizona Daily Star

As Tucson swelters through a week of sweat-sucking triple-digit heat, we might take cool comfort in one bit of news: The city is no longer on track to shatter the record for the number of days that reach or top 100 degrees in a single year.

TEP crews repair storm damage

Tucson Electric Power crews worked Monday replacing 15 downed and broken poles along South Alvernon Way between Benson Highway and Valencia Road.

Tucson monsoon: Sunday's lively lightning

Kori Rumore / Arizona Daily Star

Lightning seemed to dominate the Tucson landscape last night. That's why today I contacted local lightning expert Ron Holle to find out more about it.