TUCSON – While relief is on the way for a parched Sonoran Desert, a lot more is needed to wipe out the expanding Arizona drought.
According to 4WARN Meteorologist Jeff Beamish, most of Metro Tucson can expect 0.30-0.75” rain through Friday.
Isolated areas in the Old Pueblo may pick up an inch, while Santa Cruz and Cochise Counties may receive up to 1.5” rainfall.
Since the start of the year, Tucson was running a rainfall deficit over 1.30”.
Dating back to October 1st, that deficit balloons to over 3”.
After a record wet July, Tucson’s rainfall is a whopping 5.04” below normal.
Even more staggering is the amount of rain needed to break out of the drought before wildfire season begins in April.
According to NOAA, southern Arizona needs roughly 8” of rainfall to eliminate the ongoing drought.
Tucson’s average March rainfall is 0.73”.
In a severe drought, every drop of rain certainly helps.