Monsoon FAIL!
Today is the Autumnal Equinox and also the practical end of this year's summer monsoon. Our prevailing winds have switched back to the west and our summertime tropical moisture is retreating back into Mexico. The Arizona Monsoon not only features big thunderstorms, lightning shows, flooding rains and related monsoonal mayhem, the storm clouds frequently create some spectacular sunsets, such as seen in this photo from my rooftop.
For me, other than pretty sunsets, the 2015 Monsoon was a complete failure. It was the driest I've experienced in 25 years of recording rainfall at my location. There were lots of powerful storms, incredible lightning displays and heavy rain all around, but none of it came directly overhead. Hit or miss is the norm, but I got all miss. During the typically stormy months of July and August, I recorded only 0.04 inches of rain (the 30-yr. average is about 2.5 inches). Thus far in September, there have only been a couple of light showers that barely wet the sidewalk. Nearby parts of the Phoenix metro area got over 1.5 inches of rain in about half an hour last night, causing localized flooding. Other places in AZ got over 3 inches of rain. I watched the storms rumble on by, without so much as a sprinkle, dry as a bone. I had to go elsewhere to get rained on this summer and although that may sound a little weird to a non-desert-dwelling weather geek, I'm so glad I did.
- ZD1 Weather Station, Phoenix, Arizona
Good bye Nonsoon... Hello El Niño!
Happy Equinox and here's hoping for some rain!
{ L } Lightbox view is best
© All Rights Reserved
Monsoon FAIL!
Today is the Autumnal Equinox and also the practical end of this year's summer monsoon. Our prevailing winds have switched back to the west and our summertime tropical moisture is retreating back into Mexico. The Arizona Monsoon not only features big thunderstorms, lightning shows, flooding rains and related monsoonal mayhem, the storm clouds frequently create some spectacular sunsets, such as seen in this photo from my rooftop.
For me, other than pretty sunsets, the 2015 Monsoon was a complete failure. It was the driest I've experienced in 25 years of recording rainfall at my location. There were lots of powerful storms, incredible lightning displays and heavy rain all around, but none of it came directly overhead. Hit or miss is the norm, but I got all miss. During the typically stormy months of July and August, I recorded only 0.04 inches of rain (the 30-yr. average is about 2.5 inches). Thus far in September, there have only been a couple of light showers that barely wet the sidewalk. Nearby parts of the Phoenix metro area got over 1.5 inches of rain in about half an hour last night, causing localized flooding. Other places in AZ got over 3 inches of rain. I watched the storms rumble on by, without so much as a sprinkle, dry as a bone. I had to go elsewhere to get rained on this summer and although that may sound a little weird to a non-desert-dwelling weather geek, I'm so glad I did.
- ZD1 Weather Station, Phoenix, Arizona
Good bye Nonsoon... Hello El Niño!
Happy Equinox and here's hoping for some rain!
{ L } Lightbox view is best
© All Rights Reserved