Morning Soundings So Far In August (Edited to add 2008)

I took a look at the 1200 UTC soundings at Tucson for the first 16 days of August and computed some averages. I have added the same information for the first 16 days of August 2008 (the wettest August here at house).
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First - 500 mb temperatures

Average = -5.3C (-6.4C)  with warmest -3.7C (-5.5C) and coolest -6.9C (-8.1C)

Warmer than -6C on 14 days (on 6 days)
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Second - 500 mb winds

Average wind speed = 8.9 kts (11.9 kts) with strongest wind 18 kts (33 kts) and weakest 1 kt (3 kts)

Greater than or equal to 10 kts on 8 days (on 8 days)

Days with an easterly component = 7 (12)
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Third - 850 mb dewpoint

Average Td = 13.6C (14.2C) with highest being 16.7C (16.4) and lowest 10.4C (9.6C)

Days above 14C = 8 (10)
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So it's been very moist but with warm temperatures and light/variable winds at 500 mb and not very favorable for storms at low elevations.

The data for 2008 are quite different - admittedly this a simple-minded comparison - but so far in August 2011 500 mb winds have been lighter than 2008 and fewer days have had an easterly component. Temperatures at 500 mb have been warmer during August 2011. August 2011 has had much less variability at the 500 mb level than did August 2008. The 850 mb Td data indicate that 2008 was only a bit more moist than was 2008.

I will do a more comprehensive comparison for July and August of the two years at the end of the month.