Official Start to Phoenix's Most Dangerous Weather
It's bright and sunny and, of course, HOT in Phoenix today. Looking out the window, you wouldn't believe that today marks the official start of Arizona's monsoon season.
Monsoon season is not usually so straightforward. In past years, residents have been glued to the weather news, waiting for the dew point to reach 55 for three days in a row. Some years, it seemed the monsoon would never start as we endured hot, sticky days in bursts of one or two for weeks that seemed like months that never ended. Other years the monsoon arrived swiftly and hit us hard stirring up dust storms worthy of the national news. This year, it came upon without warning. Sure, there is a heat advisory today (temps reaching 110 degrees Fahrenheit or 43 degrees Celsius) but the weather, this morning anyway, is relatively pleasant. I had my morning coffee on the patio and didn't bake. Then again it was 6 a.m.
This year the monsoon arrived courtesy of an announcement from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). This year NOAA has declared that Arizona's monsoon season begins June 15 and runs through September 30, 2008. No more waiting around for three days of hot, humid weather. The monsoon, it seems, is already here. What a great gift for Dad on Father's Day.
For more on Arizona's monsoon season, visit: When is a Monsoon Not a Monsoon? or NOAA's new Monsoon web page.
Oh, and keep in mind that despite this mild beginning, the monsoon season can be dangerous. Among the sever weather conditions associated with the monsoon are: excessive heat, flash floods, electrical storms/lightening, dust storms, tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, flooding and high winds. Be prepared to experience any and all of these, sometimes without any warning, between now and the end of September. Welcome to Summer in the Valley!
