Monsoons are a huge part of the southwest experience. Water from snow melt can bring a little spring color. A few flowers and bugs emerge slowly among the burnt yellow, pale green, and brown landscape. But once the monsoon rains come in July and August (sometimes June), the landscape and wildflowers burst with vibrant hues. It is an amazing transition. A very much anticipated season, the monsoon brings not only much needed rain, but also relief from the heat. The build up for a storm is hours, with clouds rolling in slowly and ominously. Eventually giving the earth shade from the sun, slightly cooling the air. The monsoon in Arizona is caused by high altitude winds carrying a lot of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of California. The convection heated air rises quickly, building large and dense clouds that reach tremendous heights. When the cool air can no longer hold the moisture that has risen, the thunderstorms occur. I took this photo a morning after a monsoon storm. Looking forward to more to come!
Thanks for the article post.Really thank you! Great.
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Tracy, I am still waiting for monsoon season to begin… with this drought everything is dry except where I water and then wildflowers bloom…I can’t wait! Here this week, temps are going to approach 100 degrees – almost unheard of for this area, and plants are withering even with watering. We need those nourishing rains from the sky… Let’s hope they come soon for the desert blooms…and to cool the temps… the west side of my adobe house is almost too hot to touch in the afternoon.
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We have only had one storm so far, I am
eagerly anticipating the rain and the smell of the rain, as well.
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me too… ah the sweet scent of rain
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