Monsoon Season in Southern Arizona
The word "monsoon", originally comes from the Arabic word, "mausim", meaning "a season". It was first used to describe the winds over the Arabian sea, which blow from the northeast for six months and from the southwest for another six months.
In Arizona, the monsoon, begins with the extreme dry heat of May and June, when temperatures rise to 100 degrees and above. As the atmosphere warms, the dry jet stream moves northward and the winds shift up from the south. This shift brings in humidity and moisture from the Sea of Cortez, and the Gulf of Mexico. Once the moist air arrives, the intense summer sun heats the air, creating columbous clouds, which lead to frequent afternoon and evening thunderstorms with a spectacular display of lightning.
Officially, the monsoon starts on June 15th and ends on September 30th.
The Monsoon
From Wikepedia
A monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by seasonal changes in precipitation,Ramage, C., Monsoon Meteorology. International Geophysics Series, Vol. 15, 296 pp., Academic Press, San Diego, Calif. 1971. but is now used to describe seasonal changes atmospheric circulation and precipitation.Trenberth, .K.E., Stepaniak, D.P., Caron, J.M., 2000, The global monsoon as seen through the divergent atmospheric circulation, Journal of Climate, 13, 3969-3993. The major monsoon systems of the world consist of the (West) African and Asia-Australian monsoons. The inclusion of the North and South American monsoons with incomplete wind reversal may be debated.
The term was first used in English in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and neighboring countries to refer to the big seasonal winds blowing from the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea in the southwest bringing heavy rainfall to the area.American Meteorological Society Glossary of Meteorology. Monsoon. Retrieved on 2008-03-14. In hydrology, monsoon rainfall is considered to be that which occurs in any region that receives the majority of its rain during a particular season. This allows other regions of the world to qualify as monsoon regions.International Committee of the Third Workshop on Monsoons. The Global Monsoon System: Research and Forecast. Retrieved on 2008-03-16.
Category: Image - :Monsoon clouds Lucknow.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Monsoon clouds over Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Arizona Monsoon Facts and Figures
Average date of monsoon storms beginning - July 7
Earliest Monsoon beginning on record - June 16, 1925
Latest monsoon beginning on record - July 25, 1987
Average date of first break in monsoon - August 16
Average total number of monsoon days - 56
Greatest number of monsoon days on record - 99 in 1984
Greatest number of consecutive monsoon days on record - 72 in 1984 (June 25 - September 5)
Least number of monsoon days on record - 27 in 1962
Wettest monsoon on record (July, Aug. and Sept. rainfall) - 9.38 inches in 1984
Driest monsoon on record (July, Aug. and Sept. rainfall) - .35 inches in 1924
Average monsoon rainfall (July, Aug. and Sept.) - 2.45 inches
Monsoon Madness
Lightning
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Monsoon Madness
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Never Shower in a Thunderstorm: Surprising Facts and Misleading Myths About Our Health and the World We Live In
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Causes of floods in the Southwest
Flooding causes more deaths in the United States than any other weather-related hazard except severe heat.In Arizona and New Mexico, floods killed 57 people between 1995 and 2006, while hundreds of others have needed swift water rescues. The economic price tag is also high, costing Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah approximately $5 billion between 1972 and 2006.
The Dangers of Flash Flooding
Flash floods can occur within minutes after the onset of a rain storm. They can be deadly because water levels rise quickly and flow like rapids within minutes.
City streets become rivers, because with no drainage system, except for low-lying washes and arroyos the water has nowhere to go and cannot be absorbed into the ground.
Mountainous areas also experience flash floods, as the higher grounds funnel water into the canyons. One tragedy in 1981, killed eight people in the Sabino Canyon area in Tucson, Arizona. (my hometown)
Waiting for Next Year's Monsoon
Current weather conditions in Tucson, AZ (85712)
Local Pollen Reports
70°F (Feels like 70°F)
Last update: 11/12/09 8:55 AM MST
Humidity: 31%Visibility: 10.0 mi
Dew Point: 38°F
UV Index: 1 (Lawn and Garden Weather)
Barometer: 29.96in rising
Moon: Rush Hour Traffic
Wind: 8mph From: Airport Conditions
Today
Mostly Cloudy
High: 81°F
Low: 59°F
Sunrise: 6:50 AM
Sunset: 5:25 PM
Friday
Nov 13
Partly Cloudy
High: 71°F
Low: 52°F
Sunrise: 6:51 AM
Sunset: 5:25 PM
Saturday
Nov 14
Partly Cloudy / Wind
High: 68°F
Low: 47°F
Sunrise: 6:52 AM
Sunset: 5:24 PM
Sunday
Nov 15
Partly Cloudy
High: 63°F
Low: 41°F
Sunrise: 6:53 AM
Sunset: 5:23 PM
Desert Lightning in Arizona
Single Lightning Bolt Strikes in the Desert During Monsoon Season, Arizona Photographic Poster Print by Mike Thiess, 16x12
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Autumn Lightning and Moon, Arizona Emerging Artists Photographic Poster Print by Susan Strom, 8x10
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Lightning Scenic Poster Print, 16x20
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Lightning in the Western Sky, Arizona Emerging Artists Photographic Poster Print by Susan Strom, 20x16
Amazon Price: $23.99 (as of 11/12/2009)
Your Thoughts and Feedback
Familyspiritkeeper wrote...
That's my favorite season out there. I miss them!
Posted September 01, 2009
MsSnow4a wrote...
Great lens I will lensroll it to my tucson lens as soon as it shows as a published lens :)
Posted July 14, 2009
papawu wrote...
I think the weather in Aeizona must be pretty similar to Nevada. I happen to be in Vegas at the moment and it is like Taezan hot out here. It's at 100 degrees today with the sun just beating down on you something unmercifull. I will be leaving this weekend though, so if they happen to get monsoons here as well, then I am certainly glad I won't be around for it. Great lens with some fascinating history and info.
Posted June 18, 2009
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References
- Changnon S.A. 2008. Assessment of flood losses in the United States, Journal of Contemporary Water Research & Education, 138:38-44.
- House, P.K. and V.R. Baker. 2000. Paleohydrology of flash floods in small desert watersheds in western Arizona. Water Resources Research, 37:1825-1839.
- Desilets, D. and S.L. Desilets. 2006. Magnitude of flash floods on the rise in the Sabino Creek. Arizona Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2006, abstract with programs: H21B-1369.
- Lenart, M. 2006. East Pacific hurricanes bring rain to Southwest. In Lenart, M. (ed.) Global warming in the Southwest: Projection, observations, and impacts. University of Arizona, Climate Assessment of the Southwest, Tucson, Arizona.
by monarch13
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