Get Ready for the Monsoon: Events and Activities for Weather Enthusiasts
Monsoon Magic, Sonoita, AZ, WRRC 2025 Photo Contest Submission
Image: Wendy Islas
Each summer, people across the Southwest watch the sky for signs of the annual monsoon. These storms provide Arizona and New Mexico with more than half of their yearly rainfall, bringing much-needed moisture, dramatic lightning displays, and a welcome break from extreme heat. For weather enthusiasts, photographers, scientists, and curious community members alike, local events and activities offer opportunities to celebrate, learn about, and engage with others over the Southwest monsoon.
Those eager to deepen their understanding of the monsoon can do so at Monsoon Con 2026 on Saturday, June 27, at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Attendees can learn from expert storm photographers, lightning specialists, educators, and forecasters about the science, beauty, and impacts of the Southwest monsoon and connect with others who share a passion for monsoon storms. Monsoon Con draws participants from across Arizona and neighboring states. The audience includes photographers, working meteorologists, amateur weather enthusiasts, and storm chasers who travel the region each summer to document lightning, cloud formations, and evolving weather patterns.
For those who want to engage with storm forecasts, the Southwest Monsoon Fantasy Forecast provides a competitive online game in which players test their monsoon forecasting skills. Created by the Arizona Institute for Resilience at the U of A, the game challenges players to predict monthly precipitation totals for five major cities in the US Southwest monsoon region: Tucson, Phoenix, Flagstaff, Albuquerque, and El Paso. Co-host Michael Crimmins, a University of Arizona Extension Specialist, CLIMAS researcher, and professor in the U of A Department of Environmental Science, helps participants understand the unique characteristics and variability of the Southwest monsoon.
Southwest Monsoon Fantasy Forecast participants earn points each month based on how closely their predictions match observed rainfall totals, with the goal of accumulating the highest score over the course of the monsoon season from July through September. The competition offers a fun way to explore the uncertainty and complexity of seasonal weather forecasting while following the progress of the monsoon throughout the summer.
Those who want to learn more about the prospects for this year’s monsoon are also encouraged to attend the Intermountain West Drought Update and Outlook Webinar on June 16. To learn more or to register, visit the link below.