Record rainfall followed by cooler temps

Tucson residents may see a few more showers early Monday before the weekend storm finally moves out of Southern Arizona. Most of the remaining rain is expected to end by about 9 a.m., but the weather shift will continue after the clouds clear. Tucson’s high is forecast to reach only about 69 degrees, and temperatures across much of Southern Arizona are expected to run 5 to 15 degrees below the average for early November. The combination of saturated ground, swollen waterways and cooler air means the storm’s effects will continue to matter even after rainfall stops in the city.

The weekend system produced a record-setting rainfall total at Tucson International Airport on Sunday, Nov. 1. The airport measured 1.23 inches, far exceeding the previous record for that date, 0.42 inches set in 1987. The total represents the official measurement for Tucson and underscores how concentrated the storm’s rainfall was over a relatively short period. Areas across the region did not receive identical amounts, but the airport record shows that the storm delivered an unusually wet day for the city, even as the forecast now turns toward drier conditions.

The storm also broke a daily rainfall record at Bisbee-Douglas Airport. That location received 0.74 inches, surpassing the previous record of 0.31 inches, also set in 1987. The two records show that the heavy rain was not limited to Tucson’s immediate metro area. Communities across Southern Arizona experienced a significant weather event, with impacts extending from the Tucson area toward the southeast. Although only a few showers are expected to linger Monday morning, the rainfall that already fell will continue moving through washes, rivers and other drainage channels.

Flooding remains the main concern as the region begins drying out. The National Weather Service reported flooding along the Santa Cruz River at Trico Road and placed a Flood Warning in effect Monday. The forecast called for floodwaters to reach Sunland Gin Road in Pinal County later Monday or Monday night. That means the most serious hazards may not occur at the same time as the heaviest rain in Tucson. Water moving downstream can create dangerous conditions after local skies begin clearing, particularly near river crossings and low lying areas along the Santa Cruz system.

Major flooding was also reported along the Gila River near Solomon in Graham County. That report places the storm’s effects beyond Pima and Pinal counties and indicates that runoff is affecting several Southern Arizona watersheds. The situation is developing over a broader area than a single neighborhood or drainage corridor. For people traveling between communities, conditions can change as water levels rise downstream, even when rainfall has ended at their starting point. The active Flood Warning at the Santa Cruz River and the reported Gila River flooding remain the most significant ongoing consequences identified in the forecast.

Monday’s cooler weather will be a noticeable change for residents after the storm. Tucson’s expected high of about 69 degrees is below what is typical for early November, while much of Southern Arizona is projected to remain 5 to 15 degrees below average. Cooler temperatures can make the day feel calmer once showers end, but they do not eliminate the hazards created by heavy rain. Floodwater can continue to move through river channels and drainage areas while road surfaces and surrounding ground remain affected by the weekend rainfall.

The rain also adds another entry to a regionally important pattern of weather extremes, with records set at both Tucson International Airport and Bisbee-Douglas Airport. In Tucson, the previous daily record had stood since 1987, and Bisbee-Douglas had the same record year. The new totals do not mean that every part of Southern Arizona received the same amount of rain, but they provide official benchmarks for the storm’s intensity at two separate airport reporting sites. For Tucson, the 1.23 inch total is the clearest measure of how unusual Sunday’s rainfall was at the city’s primary climate station.

The forecast offers some relief after Monday morning. Drier weather is expected for the remainder of the week and into the weekend, although temperatures are likely to stay below normal. That outlook suggests that the region will move from an active rainfall and flooding period into a cooler, quieter stretch rather than returning immediately to typical early November temperatures. For now, the timeline is straightforward: a few final showers may remain Monday morning, most activity should end by 9 a.m., flood concerns will continue along affected waterways, and dry but cooler conditions are expected to follow.