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Desert_Captain's avatar
Desert_Captain
Explorer III
Jul 04, 2014

The Monsoon has arrived in Arizona

Yesterday, a little after 5 in the afternoon we got our first Monsoon thunderstorm of the season, Hooray! As it rolled in the temperature dropped from 102 to 75 in about 15 minutes and then the heavens opened up. Over the next ninety minutes we got and inch and half of rain accompanied by almost continuous lightning. We had only had a quarter of an inch so far this year, hopefully a lot more will follow. This afternoon is looking good with the clouds stacking up over MT Lemon 12 miles to the east.

Ironically summer is our favorite time of year. The crowds are gone as the snowbirds have flown home leaving the roads, golf courses and restaurants deserted. Our highs are usually no more than most of the rest of the country and come with 12 to 20% humidity and very few bugs. When we get a few days of warmer than normal temps we just load up the C and head up to the White Mountains 3 hours to the north. It is amazing how delightful the weather can be at 8 or 9,000'.

So don't worry about us Zonies, we survive the summers just fine and they come with one of Mother Nature's most spectacular shows.

:B
  • We can all breathe easier now that the monsoons have arrived. During May and June it is tough watching our forests go up in smoke.
    A few more days of this rain and everything will be green again.
    Dave
  • Ahhh! We're a little north of you and didn't get that muchrain but we did get the thunder and lightening. It's been about 4 months since the last rain.
  • Right on schedule. When my parents lived in AZ they said that the monsoon arrived, almost like clockwork, on July 4th. :) They also liked summertime there - they said they could find parking places at the bank, grocery store, etc. :)
  • Back in '95 I spent the first of several 4th of July's in Tucson. I was invited to a BBQ at a home up off Skyline Drive that had a commanding view of Tucson and beyond. As darkness descended we watched fireworks displays from at least 6 different locations... but they didn't come close to the spectacular lightning display that Mother Nature provided that night.
  • Were still waiting, clouds, cooler temp and winds but no rain. Send a bit our way.