Every summer, monsoon season provides Phoenix with roughly half of its yearly rainfall — and a needed break from the heat.
If you’ve lived in Arizona during monsoon season, you can smell it. As rainstorms descend on the Valley, kicking up dirt and forming haboobs
—
those are dust storms, for any newbies —
a distinctive scent fills the air.
That smell is courtesy of the creosote plant, a desert bush that emits a particular fragrance in the rain. When you catch a whiff, it means one thing: A storm’s coming.
Welcome to monsoon season.
Arizona Monsoon Season: What to Know in 2025
Arizona’s monsoon season runs from June 15 to September 30, bringing much-needed relief from extreme summer heat and nearly half the state’s annual rainfall.
The word “monsoon” comes from the Arabic mawsim, meaning “season,” and refers to a shift in wind patterns that brings in moisture from the oceans, fueling dramatic thunderstorms.
These storms often produce “haboobs”—massive dust storms caused by thunderstorm downdrafts. Haboobs can reduce visibility to near zero and pose serious driving hazards.
Along with the welcome cooler temperatures, monsoon storms can lead to flash flooding and power outages. Still, the rain is vital to desert ecosystems and water supplies.
Looking ahead, NOAA forecasts an above-average monsoon season in 2025, meaning more frequent and intense storms could be on the way. Arizonans are advised to prepare and stay weather-aware.