 dogmaXYZPremium
join:2002-08-15
Boulder City, NV
kudos:1 | When exactly is the AZ, N.M. & So.Nevada Monsoon Season? I was told it starts in Mid July and ends in September. Also, that these areas (AZ, N.M. & So.Nevada) get more than half of their yearly rainfall during this period.
I don't see any rain in the 10-day Vegas forecast, however I see some "isolated thunderstorm" activity in the Tuscan & Phoenix, AZ areas in the extended forecast.
Are they really just lightning storms, more than actual rain storms? Or does one really need to be prepared for rains and floods? Does Colorado and Utah get any of this action?
I really don't remember much real rain this time last year. |
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 tubbynetreminds me of the danse russePremium,MVM
join:2008-01-16
Chandler, AZ | said by dogma:I was told it starts in Mid July and ends in September. Also, that these areas (AZ, N.M. & So.Nevada) get more than half of their yearly rainfall during this period. this is one of the things that bothers me the most of modern day "weather" people. it used to be that "monsoon" season started after so many days (i believe it was 3-4) where the dewpoint was a certain temperature (i.e. rh% was a certain compensated percentage). since that was generally associated with the summertime, they just moved it from mid-july to mid-september. since no one speaks of the "old school" monsoon measurement, everyone will say that "its monsoon season", but the moist tropical flow may not have started fully. in fact, to quote the following from asu's weather department
said by »geoplan.asu.edu/aztc/monsoon.html :Monsoon thunderstorms are convective in nature. By that, we mean that the thunderstorms are powered by intense surface heating. In addition, strong moisture influx into Arizona is also required. The operational criterion for the onset of "monsoon" conditions used in Arizona is "prolonged (3 consecutive days or more) period of dew points averaging 55°F" or higher." There is nothing magical, however, about 55°F. It originally was linked to the total amount of water in the atmosphere above the weather station (a precipitable water amount of 1", a quantity thought to be necessary for convective thunderstorm activity). In general, for Phoenix, the temperature limits for the production of monsoon thunderstorms are 100° to 108°F with the optimum temperature being about 105°F. Temperatures needed to produce Tucson's thunderstorms are somewhat lower. the monsoonal flow is in full swing where i grew up (far east-central arizona). i get weather reports daily of the flood advisories and severe weather warnings. i see the colorful radar screens and such and get very jealous.
based on my reading -- i'm getting very concerned that the heat island effect in the phoenix metro area is actually killing storms (based on the radiating heat from the buildings/streets/etc at night), as i can watch storms drop off the rim to the north and east of phoenix -- only to die at the perimeter of the valley right where the major freeways loop the valley. i've also generally noticed a general shift east in the flow patterns as well -- though this could be clearly anecdotal on my part. moisture patterns aloft seem to have centered themselves closer to the nm/az border and the warm tropical moisture isn't pushing as far west.
as to whether or not nevada gets anything, i am not sure. i've been in arizona most of my life, and even then, in the eastern half of the state.
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"...if I in my north room dance naked, grotesquely before my mirror waving my shirt round my head and singing softly to myself..." |
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 FutureMonKeep your Mitts off RMoneyPremium,ExMod 2002-05
join:2000-10-05
Seaside, CA
1 edit | reply to dogma
I would tend to agree with the mid-july to mid-september time frame...at least in Colorado. Then, usually the first real snow hits around Halloween. I know you didn't ask about Colorado but the gulf stream almost always takes what hits there first and moves it down to the places you mentioned.
- FM |
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dogmaXYZPremium
join:2002-08-15
Boulder City, NV
kudos:1
1 edit | reply to tubbynet
Thanks. That was helpful.
People here say that we should expect Thunderstorms from end of July through early September, however at what intensity is unknown. I imagine the central AZ and Western NM regions would be much more susceptible to heavier (and far more "exciting") storms.
Interesting your observations about heat islands. There must be some studies somewhere that show slight temperature variances above metropolitan areas that actually alter natural weather conditions.
said by FutureMon:I know you didn't ask about Colorado ... I did mention Colorado. I am about as amateur as I can be with respect to weather (thats because I was born and raised in SoCal and there was no need to care about that), but it would make sense that these patterns affect everything this side of the Sierras and Rockies. |
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FutureMonKeep your Mitts off RMoneyPremium,ExMod 2002-05
join:2000-10-05
Seaside, CA
1 edit | My favorite time of year in CO was the July/August timeframe. We got the best of the best thunderstorms (or I suppose worst of the worst if you don't like em), and even the occasional tornado warning.
At my house in Black Forest, a lightening bolt struck no more than about 50 feet away from my driveway as I was packing my moving truck to come back to CA.
My buddy was standing in the garage with the door open when it hit and actually saw it. I was on the other side of the house. Not only did I feel the bolt, but I heard him exclaiming "Whoa What the!!!!!" right afterwards... 
The year before that, in August, I was running into a grocery store during pouring rain to get some smokes (lol), and a bolt hit so close, all the car alarms in the parking lot went off simultaneously. It was kind of surreal.
- FM |
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| reply to dogma
Ours started 7/9. I live in the Far East Valley of the Phoenix Metro area. Rained probably a good 2 inches. We get it bad out here as it usually swings from Mexico to the East. Then I went to NC for 2 weeks, hardly a drop. But I heard alot of rain in AZ while I was gone. I've been back 5 days and it's rained hard 3 out of those. The horizontal lightning is unbelievable spiking over the Superstition Mts, that's my back yard basically. Quite the light show and can be scary. Usually lasts into mid Sept. |
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tubbynetreminds me of the danse russePremium,MVM
join:2008-01-16
Chandler, AZ | said by callmesuz:Ours started 7/9. I live in the Far East Valley of the Phoenix Metro area. Rained probably a good 2 inches. We get it bad out here as it usually swings from Mexico to the East. Then I went to NC for 2 weeks, hardly a drop. But I heard alot of rain in AZ while I was gone. I've been back 5 days and it's rained hard 3 out of those. The horizontal lightning is unbelievable spiking over the Superstition Mts, that's my back yard basically. Quite the light show and can be scary. Usually lasts into mid Sept. yeah -- the fringes are getting it, but the interior rarely sees a drop.
last night was the first real rainstorm that i have seen all year at my apartment. some crazy mid- and upper-level disturbances were breaking apart and forming most of the afternoon. finally, one came together north of the santan and rolled into tempe.
hopefully more today. i had to stand out in the rain last night -- i really live in the wrong part of the country.
q.
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"...if I in my north room dance naked, grotesquely before my mirror waving my shirt round my head and singing softly to myself..." |
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 Pontiac FreakLooking for 1971-1976 GM Station WagonsPremium
join:2000-07-18
Mesa, AZ | reply to dogma
Prior to 2008 the Phoenix area monsoon was considered to have started when there were three consecutive days when the dew point averaged 55 degrees or higher. In 2008 the National Weather Service decided to take the guesswork out of monsoon start and end dates. After all, monsoon is a season, and most people should not be concerned with whether or not a particular dust storm was defined as monsoon storm or not. Beginning in 2008, June 15 will be the first day of monsoon, and September 30 will be the last day. Now we can be more concerned with monsoon safety and less concerned with definitions.
»phoenix.about.com/od/weather/a/m···ivia.htm
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| reply to tubbynet
well I hope you're biting your words Tubby. Tempe, you guys got it good yesterday and I can hear it banging away right now to the west. All we got was wind and a good cool down. |
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tubbynetreminds me of the danse russePremium,MVM
join:2008-01-16
Chandler, AZ | said by callmesuz:well I hope you're biting your words Tubby. Tempe, you guys got it good yesterday and I can hear it banging away right now to the west. All we got was wind and a good cool down. haha.
we've had it good the past few days. last night was pretty good -- more of a steady rain than a downpour. was very nice.
however, we're supposed to be getting rain (nearly) every day. a few good rainstorms does not a monsoon make.
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"...if I in my north room dance naked, grotesquely before my mirror waving my shirt round my head and singing softly to myself..." |
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dogmaXYZPremium
join:2002-08-15
Boulder City, NV
kudos:1 | So, on a day like today where the highs are 99° and there is rain off and on throughout the day, what's the humidity like?
I'm really talking about the "feel" of it, and not the number. The temperature and humidity readings are about the same, but why doesn't this humidity "feel" as horribly miserable as the humidity in the South or in the East? Or is it? |
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tubbynetreminds me of the danse russePremium,MVM
join:2008-01-16
Chandler, AZ | said by dogma:So, on a day like today where the highs are 99° and there is rain off and on throughout the day, what's the humidity like? i currently have the windows open (i like listening to the rain) and the a/c off. wunderground has tempe pegged at about 80 with 82% rh. its actually pleasant outside -- if not a little sticky.
my indoor weather station has my room pegged at around 87 with the same humidity (i've got my computer and a mini-fridge running). it feels a little muggy and my sweat isn't working to cool me off the way it should. however, i'm not complaining too loudyly -- it still feels cooler than a 118 degree day.
I'm really talking about the "feel" of it, and not the number. The temperature and humidity readings are about the same, but why doesn't this humidity "feel" as horribly miserable as the humidity in the South or in the East? Or is it?
i'm sure there is a perception issue (i.e. you're in the south its humid, you're in the west, its not, kinda thing). that being said -- it should "feel" the same. at this temperature, i don't think its that bad and people who whine about 85/85 are just looking to b!tch. i'm not sure *how* many people have stepped outside on a 115+ day in phoenix -- it is *stifling*. i was even in vegas to do some work a week ago and it didn't even feel as warm (probably due to vegas's smaller size and larger presence of dirt/open space), but 105 felt comfortable in a dress shirt and slacks.
i think its all about what you're used to and what your tolerances are. i spent a summer working in the "texoma" region (witchita falls, tx) and was walking 10+ miles per day in august. while it was warm, i got used to it quickly. now it doesn't bother me.
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"...if I in my north room dance naked, grotesquely before my mirror waving my shirt round my head and singing softly to myself..." |
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