Weather Recap: August 2025

August was an overall hot month with more days hotter than normal, but that is what we can expect during the summer months. Also, we can’t forget about the severe storms that brought record rainfall to Yuma this month. Take a look at our weather recap and stats for the month of August.

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY-TV) – All of August, we had more days above normal for the month, but it’s summer in the Desert Southwest, so heat is what we can expect. Now, Yuma didn’t break any new temperature records for the month of August, but Yuma did tie daily record highs 2 days in a row out of the month.

On Wednesday, August 6^th, Yuma tied the record high of 115 degrees that was set in 1995, and this was also the hottest day of the month. The following day, on Thursday, August 7^th, Yuma tied another daily record high of 114 degrees that was set back in 1962. We can’t leave out El Centro reaching 118 degrees on Thursday, August 7^th, beating their daily record of 117 degrees that was set back in 1970. So overall it was a pretty toasty month across the Desert Southwest.

Also, due to some active weather later in the month, it finally brought some cooler temperatures, where we hit a high of 95 degrees on Tuesday, August 26^th, which was 11 degrees below normal and the coolest high temperature for the month of August. Plus, Yuma tied a record warm low temperature of 89 degrees on August 22^nd.

The biggest talk of the month was the significant rainfall and storms we had across the Desert Southwest on Monday, August 25th. This brought record-breaking rainfall right here in Yuma for that day. Yuma broke a 43-year-old daily rain total record on Monday, August 25^th, with a record rainfall of 1.12”. This crushed our daily rain record of 0.59” that was set back in 1982.

With the severe showers and storms we had on that Monday, August 25^th, it triggered the National Weather Service to issue a Flood Watch hours before the storms hit for the entire Desert Southwest.

This specific rain event on Monday, August 25^th, brought heavy rain, flooding, lightning, and thunder across both Yuma and Imperial Counties.

Take a look below at the rainfall that fell and was recorded between both Yuma and Imperial Counties for Monday, August 25^th.

On this same day, it brought high and damaging winds, especially in Imperial County. These winds damaged local buildings, homes, large trees fell down, and thousands without power.

Here’s a look at our wind recap from that day. Yuma’s highest wind gust on that day was 40 MPH, and El Centro reached a gust of 56 MPH.

The month of August was an overall dry month, and the last time Yuma had measurable rain prior to this month’s rain events was on March 13^th,^,with a rain total of 0.04”. However, toward the end of the month of August, we finally got some measurable rain and severe active storms across our area and region.

Yuma had some light rain and thunderstorms on Saturday morning, August 23^rd, which brought measurable rain of 0.04” here in Yuma. As mentioned before, the following Monday, on August 25^th, we had severe showers and storms that washed a daily rain total record where Yuma accumulated 1.12” that day.

From the rain we did get this month helped our monthly rain numbers for the month of August. Our rain total for the month leaves us at 1.16”, and our monthly average is 0.20", so that leaves us above our monthly average by 0.96”. That is a huge amount, especially for us here in the Desert, especially when we had a pretty non-existent monsoon season the first 2 months of summer.

Now, let’s look at where Yuma stands with our yearly rain total. As of August 31^st, so far for 2025, Yuma has accumulated 1.33", and comparing it with our 2025 yearly average, we actually should be at 1.81," which is slightly below from where we should be for the year so far.

However, with what Yuma has accumulated so far for 2025 and comparing it to our total around this same time back in 2024, we were actually at 2.21." Even though we don’t have as much rain accumulation like last year, we are only down by -0.48” from our yearly average, which isn’t bad for our area for this time of year. With that being said, we still have a month left for the monsoon season, and we could still accumulate more rain to get us to our average yearly rain total or even slightly above in the future.

We can’t forget about our drought conditions as it continues to be a big concern for our area. At the start of the year, the majority of the Desert Southwest was under severe drought, with a chunk of La Paz in extreme. And in May 2025, Yuma reached EXCEPTIONAL drought conditions. The latest drought monitor that was released on Thursday, August 28th, was still showing exceptional drought conditions for Yuma.

Take a look at the National Weather Service Phoenix’s latest Drought Statement. You can also check our drought conditions weekly for both Arizona and California.

You can also read more about Yuma and El Centro's 2025 August Climate Data from the NWS Phoenix.