Photos: Monsoon 2026 in Tucson
Images from this year's monsoon action around Tucson by the Arizona Daily Star photography staff.
A composite image from 17 separate 30-second exposures shows a fraction of the lighting strikes along the Santa Rita Mountains from a widespread monsoon cell south of Tucson, Ariz., August 5, 2026.
A big bolt of lighting hits in the Santa Rita foothills behind Hotrods Old Vail restaurant, one of hundreds of strikes from a widespread monsoon storm that rolled over Tucson, Ariz., August 5, 2026.
Lighting strikes in the Santa Rita foothills south of Hotrods Old Vail restaurant as a band of monsoon storms rolls into Tucson, Ariz., August 5, 2026. Heavy rain, high wind and hail also swept the area.
No storms nearby, but a bit of color in the skies southwest of Tucson, Ariz., during a quiet evening on the monsoon front, July 29, 2026.
Lighting strikes just after sundown as a monsoon storm in over Tucson, Ariz., July 25, 2026.
Lighting lights the clouds hovering over a peak in the southern spurs of the Rincon Mountains part of a monsoon storm running east of Tucson, Ariz., July 25, 2026.
Lighting hits in the eastern reaches of Santa Catalinas from a monsoon storm skirting the foothills neighborhoods north of Tucson, Ariz., July 25, 2026.
Lightning cuts through the sky from the monsoon activity in Cochise and Santa Cruz counties, southeast of Tucson, Ariz., July 24, 2026.
An aircraft flies towards several bolts of lightning striking down as a monsoon storms rolls through southeast of Tucson, Ariz., July 18, 2026. The storms skirted the city for the most part.
Vail, Ariz., gets a light show as a monsoon storm rolls over the southern edge of the town, just southeast of Tucson, Ariz., July 18, 2026.
A lightning bolt hits in Vail, Ariz., as the monsoon storm largely skirts to the southeast of Tucson, Ariz., July 18, 2026.
A fork of monsoon lightning finds the ground as the cell moves east passing just to the southeast of Tucson, Ariz., July 18, 2026.
A monsoon boils up west of Tucson, Ariz., dropping a little bit of rain on the extreme edge of the city, July 18, 2026.
Catlow Shipek uses a shop-vac to suck up water at the home of Julius Schlosburg after a monsoon storm in Tucson, Ariz. on July 17, 2026. An afternoon storm flooded Schlosburg’s street and home at S. Euclid Ave. and E. 34th street.
Lisa Shipek carries a box with a wet bottom out of the home of Julius Schlosburg as she helps him clean up after his street flooded after a monsoon storm in Tucson on July 17. An afternoon storm flooded Schlosburg’s street and home at South Euclid Avenue and East 34th Street.
Julius Schlosburg sweeps water out of his bedroom after a monsoon storm flooded his street and home near S. Euclid Ave. and E. 34th street in Tucson, Ariz. on July 17, 2026.
A cyclist rides by Tucson Fire Department personnel monitoring the Santa Cruz River at the Silverlake Road bridge following a report of at least one person swept down the Julian Wash following heavy rains in Tucson on July 17.
Tucson Fire Department personnel keep watch on the rain swollen Santa Cruz River at the Silverlake Road bridge, on the lookout for at least one person reported swept down the Julian Wash, Tucson, Ariz., July 17, 2026.
Two men try to rig a tow on a stalled car in a side wash at Acacia Club Lane and Country Club Road in the midst of afternoon monsoon storm dropping heavy rain, Tucson, Ariz., July 17, 2026.
A man runs for cover as heavy rain showers pour down on Southern Arizona, South Sixth Avenue, Tucson, Ariz., July 17, 2026.
A pedestrian braves the wet, colorful night, walking down Stone at Congress as a monsoon storm drops a steady rain over Tucson, Ariz., July 16, 2026.
The Lion of Judah mural by artist Joe Pagac reflects off a pool of rain water along West Ruthrauff Road, Tucson, Ariz., July 16, 2026.
A small rainbow peeks through a sea of storm clouds, West Ruthrauff Road, Tucson, Arizona, July 16, 2026.
Two women laugh as they walk through puddles of water along North Fourth Ave during a monsoon storm in Tucson, Ariz. on July 13, 2026.
A pedestrian lifts her head up towards the sky to feel the raindrops while waiting for the light to change at the intersection of North Fourth Ave and West Sixth Street during a monsoon storm in Tucson, Ariz. on July 13, 2026.
A pedestrian walks along North Fourth Ave during a monsoon storm in Tucson, Ariz. on July 13, 2026.
A jogger makes his way across the intersection of North Fourth Ave and Sixth Street during a monsoon storm in Tucson, Ariz. on July 13, 2026.
Monsoon lighting cuts the sky over Horse, a sculpture in the Cactus Courtyard on a stormy evening for Chillin’ at the Chul, Tucson, Ariz., July 11, 2026.
A bolt of lightning strikes just southwest of Vail, Ariz., part of a monsoon storm cell that moved mostly around the greater Tucson area, July 9, 2026.
A lighting bolt and a downburst of heavy rain hits in the eastern reaches of the Santa Catalinas Foothills, part of several monsoon cells that hit sporadically around the valley, Tucson, Ariz., June 25, 2026.
Sunlight breaks through stormy clouds in Southern Arizona, North Campbell Avenue, Tucson, Ariz., July 15, 2026.
A pair enjoys a rainy afternoon stroll around Brandi Fenton Memorial Park, 3482 East River Road, Tucson, Ariz., July 12, 2026.
A cyclist rides his bike to shelter minutes before storm showers roll through Tohono Transit Center, Tucson Mall Drive, Tucson, Ariz., July 11, 2026.
A pair sprints to shelter as massive storm showers roll through Tohono Transit Center, Tucson Mall Drive, Tucson, Ariz., July 11, 2026.
Maximiliano Fimbres uses a chainsaw to cut through the trunk of a fallen tree at Michigan Street and S. Park Ave. in Tucson, Ariz. on June 18, 2026.
Power lines lay across S. Park Ave near Irvington Road in Tucson, Ariz. on June 18, 2026. A monsoon storm on Wednesday night brought heavy rains and wind to the south area of Tucson.
A worker looks back at the downed power lines laying across S. Park Ave near Irvington Road in Tucson, Ariz. on June 18, 2026. A monsoon storm on Wednesday night brought heavy rains and wind to the south area of Tucson.
Crews work on fixing multiple fallen power lines near East Ajo Way and Benson Highway after storm showers hit Tucson on Wednesday afternoon, June 18, 2026.
Multiple fallen power lines hang near East Ajo Way and Benson Highway after storm showers hit Tucson on Wednesday afternoon, June 18, 2026.
Crews work on fixing multiple fallen power lines near East Ajo Way and Benson Highway after storm showers hit Tucson on Wednesday afternoon, June 18, 2026.
Crews work on fixing multiple fallen power lines near East Ajo Way and Benson Highway after storm showers hit Tucson on Wednesday afternoon, June 18, 2026.
Crews work on fixing multiple fallen power lines near East Ajo Way and Benson Highway after storm showers hit Tucson on Wednesday afternoon, June 18, 2026.
A pedestrian dashes through the monsoon rain pelting down on the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Congress Street, Tucson, Ariz., June 17, 2026. A line of storms moved slowly over the valley dropping rain, at times heavy, some wind and a few lightning bolts.
Pedestrians team up to share rare umbrellas as heavy rain washes through downtown Tucson, Ariz., June 17, 2026.
A pedestrian rides his bike through rain showers, East University Boulevard, Tucson, Ariz., June 17, 2026.
A pedestrian uses two hands to control her umbrella during a monsoon storm whipping wind and rain through Sixth Avenue in downtown Tucson, Ariz., June 17, 2026.
A large rainbow forms after storm showers hit Tucson, North Oracle Road, Ariz., June 17, 2026.
A pedestrian takes shelter in a building’s overhang, hiding from the rain while waiting for the crossing light to change at Scott Avenue and Congress Street, Tucson, Ariz., June 17, 2026.
A pair of pedestrians brave the heavy rain, strolling along Scott Avenue under the mural on the wall of Cobra Arcade Tucson, Ariz., June 17, 2026.
Heavy monsoon rain pounds down on the foot and vehicle traffic at Scott Avenue and Congress Street, Tucson, Ariz., June 17, 2026.
A woman walks along N. Stone Ave as her reflection is seen in a puddle of water after an early morning monsoon storm in Tucson, Ariz. on June 15, 2026.
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
Mamta Popat
Photojournalist
Grace Trejo
Photojournalist
A monsoon storm swept across Tucson Wednesday bringing heavy rain across the city and prompting water rescues.
The body of a woman has been found in the Santa Cruz River, about three miles away from where a woman was swept into rushing water during a storm Wednesday in Tucson, authorities say.
A new Arizona water report says only about 3% of the state’s precipitation reaches groundwater aquifers. Researchers recommend expanding stormwater capture, recharge projects and forest management efforts to help offset water losses driven by drought and climate change.
Tucson is expected to dry out over the weekend.
Chances for thunderstorms in the Tucson region rise over the weekend from about a 40% chance Saturday night to about 60% by Sunday night, the …
A man swept away in a wash during a monsoon storm in Tucson was found dead Saturday.