Strong high pressure aloft dominated the weather pattern over the area during the first seven days
of the month. This resulted in high temperatures being well above normal during this period with a 
near record high of 84 degrees being recorded on the 5th. The average temperature during the
first seven days of the month was 59.6 degrees and ranks as the 6th warmest Feb. 1st through
7th period on record (record is 65.1 degrees back in 1963). This dry and warm pattern that started
in late January would come to an end starting on the 8th. 

A series of winter storms would bring unsettled weather to the area during the next week, with the 
first storm moving through the area on the 8th/9th and the follow-up storm impacting the area on 
the 10th. Rainfall totals from the storm on the 8th ranged from a quarter of an inch to one inch . 
Mountain snow amounts above 6000 feet ranged from 4 to 7 inches.

The follow-up storm quickly moved through the area early on the morning of the 10th. This storm
was a much colder storm with origins up in the Gulf of Alaska which brought snow levels down to
the valley floor. Snow amounts across the metro area, especially north east and southeast of the
city of Tucson ranged from 1 to 3 inches. Elsewhere across the city, snow amounts were less 
than a half an inch. High temperatures on the 10th were in the upper 40s to lower 50s. Cooler than 
normal temperature would hang around for another week. The table below shows a comparison
between the very warm start of the month and cool middle part of the month

Strong high pressure aloft would bring much above normal high temperatures during the eight days
of the month. Near record high temperatures were recorded on the 21st and 22nd with record high 
temperatures occurring on the 23rd and 28th. The high temperature of 81 degrees on the 21st was
one degree shy of the daily record and also was one degree shy of being the nations warmest 
location which was McAllen Texas. Tucson was the nations warmest location on the 22nd and
 23rd with daily highs of 83 and 91 degrees respectively.  The record high of 91 degrees on the
23rd ranks as the 2nd warmest temperature in February.

February 2009 goes into the record books as the 16th warmest on record with an average 
monthly temperature of 57.3 degrees, which is 2.3 degrees above normal. Temperature 
extremes for the month ranged from a high of 91 degrees on the 23rd to a low of 32 degrees on 
the 14th.

Area rainfall totals for the month ranged from four-tenths of an inch to an inch and a half. The 
wettest areas were on the northwest side along with the foothills of the Catalina and Rincon 
mountains. Officially, the International airport recorded just under six-tenths of an inch 
/0.56"/, which is a third of an inch below normal.

Winter 2008-2009 goes into the record books as the 6th warmest on record (tied with 1994-1995) with below normal rainfall. Rainfall totals across the metro area ranged from 1.50" to 3.50" with localized spots up to 4 inches. Officially the International airport recorded 2.22", which is just under seven-tenths of an inch below normal.

February decade in review: the 2000s

The month of February during the decade of the 2000s will go into the record books as the 3rd
warmest and 3rd driest decade on record  (dating back to the mid-1890s). The decadal average 
temperature of 55.5 degrees is a half of a degree cooler than the 1990s. The average decadal 
precipitation of 0.55" is almost two-thirds of an inch drier than the 1990s.

2006 (58.3°) is ranked as the 10th warmest February on record. 2006 (Trace) ranks as the 4th 
driest (tied with 1999/1974/1924/1910/1902/1895) February on record.

The first two graphs below shows the daily departure from normal, or periods of warm/cold, for
each February day from 2000 through 2009. The third graph is the departure from normal for 
the monthly average temperatures. The fourth graph is the departure from normal for the 
monthly rainfall. (all years compared against 1971-2000 normals except 2000/2001 which were 
compared to 1961-1990 normals).

Temperature extremes for the decade ranged from 91 degrees on February 23, 2009 to 29 
degrees on February 6, 2008; February 13, 2004 and February 6, 2004. Ten records were 
set/tied this past decade. (listing below is in chronological order). For the third straight
decade no record low temperatures were set. The last record low temperature set at the
International airport during February was back in 1975 (25° on the 23rd).

Winter season decade in review: the 2000s

The winter season during the decade of the 2000s will go into the record books as the 3rd
warmest and DRIEST decade on record  (dating back to the mid-1890s). The decadal average 
temperature of 53.3 degrees is a half of a degree cooler than the 1990s. The average decadal 
precipitation of 1.54" is over TWO INCHES DRIER than the 1990s.

2005-2006 (58.3°) and 2008-2009 (55.5°) are ranked as the 6th and 10th warmest Winter
seasons on record respectively. 2005-2006 (0.01") and 1999-2000 (0.29") are ranked as the
DRIEST and 2nd driest Winter seasons on record respectively.

Glueck