Water Woes XLI-2025 Monsoon
- Mark L. Johnson
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
2025 Monsoon Stats
It's official, the 2025 Monsoon (June 15-September 30) total precipitation was 2.82 inches, which is the 12th driest monsoon on record. See the Haywood Plot issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) yesterday (below). Normal monsoon precipitation for the period 1895-2025 is 5.69 inches. Therefore, the 2025 Monsoon was 2.87 inches below normal.
Monsoon Precipitation Events Vary Widely
Monsoon precipitation events vary widely in strength and location. It can rain in Oro Valley but not in Marana. It can rain on one side of your house and not the other.
As previously reported in Water Woes XL, I recorded 1.2 inches of rain in 30 minutes on 8/19/25 at my house. Yet just a few miles away in the Tortolita Mountains, there appeared to be more intense precipitation during that same period based on the erosion damage to the Upper Javelina, Lower Javelina, and Wild Burrow Trails. But the precipitation that caused that damage was isolated to small portions of the Wild Burro Wash watershed.
Let's compare Wild Burro Wash erosion from the August 2025 monsoonal storm to Wild Burro Wash erosion from an August 2021 monsoonal storm.
Hiked the Wild Burro-Alamo Springs Loop Trail on 9/29/25. The lower portion of the Wild Burro Wash (trailhead to confluence with the Lower Javelina Trail) did have some decent flow based on the erosion channels. However, the upper portion of the Wild Burro Wash (confluence with the Lower Javelina Trail to Alamo Springs (Well) showed very little flow based on the lack of erosion channels. In Water & Flower Power (2021), we reported significant flow during an August 2021 monsoonal storm in all portions of the Wild Burro Wash. In fact, it was the only time in the last 6 years that the wash flowed over its entirety. See comparative photos below.
Globe, AZ Flood Event (9/25/25)
Sadly, on 9/25/25, four people lost their lives in Globe, AZ, during a significant localized monsoonal storm. There was great damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure. According to reports, there was 2.5 inches of rain that day, but the precipitation duration was not mentioned (most likely very short to cause that much damage). Click on the link below to read the AP Article on this tragic flooding event.