[chumley]

Welcome to the 2012 Arizona Monsoon!

Yes, officially (according the the NWS) it begins today. Please be prepared for severe storms, lightning, haboobs, hail, wind, dust, power failures, and mass hysteria in general.

Be especially prepared for ridiculous local news coverage featuring on-scene reports of rain in parking lots, big puddles, and downed palm fronds.

[azbackpackr]

Gives the hairdos something to talk about besides meth busts.

[coanbru]

Welcome to the 2012 Arizona Monsoon!

Yes, officially (according the the NWS) Be especially prepared for ridiculous local news coverage featuring on-scene reports of rain in parking lots, big puddles, and downed palm fronds.

I think I missed the first 1/2 Hour Monsoon News special last night... I sure hope they replay it so I know what to do in a monsoon

Driving through flooded washes is OK... Right?

[Patrick L]

Just make sure you're going really fast when you hit the water and your momentum should carry you to the other side!

[Outdoor Lover]

So if we drive across a flooded wash and the current takes ahold of the vehicle, can we log that on this site as an "Assisted Float"?

[imike]

massive dust storm obscured visibility an hour ago... could not even see the foothills half mile away. Of course, I do live right next to a big pile of gypsum (largest pile in the world)... that probably had something to do with it. Monsoon would be nice; forest is on the verge of getting shut down if the rain does not hit soon.

[Jim_H]

Big monsoon season cumulonimbus clouds up near Page today. Dry, and I think a west wind, but there was also some virga and it looked pretty.

[azbackpackr]

We have monsoon starting!! Raining near Alpine, raining around Maverick, totally cloudy here in Eagar, raining east of Eagar, lots of thunder and lightning, right now!!

[Outdoor Lover]

[azbackpackr]

You should hear it. Thundering right overhead now! Just waiting for the rain to hit my neighborhood!

[Jim_H]

Pretty early start this year.

[Nighthiker]

Looks like Tucson had a visit, dust to the south of home.

[imike]

78 degrees at 4pm... in Alamogordo! 4" rain storm happening as I sit out here on the deck... that is: 4" between each raindrop. Looks as if the mountain top might have scored some real moisture, but I'd have to agree... monsoon pattern here. Maybe the forest will not get closed down this year!!

[Jim_H]

Also, Liz, monsoon what? As written, "monsoon" is an adjective, so I am totally lost to your meaning. Where is the noun?! Is it monsoon rain, monsoon thunderstorms, monsoon induced haboobs? I'm so confused. Did the North American Monsoon reach Arizona yesterday? I need to wait for Tucson to tell me it did.

[Outdoor Lover]

Anyone know whether the Rim got any rain? Am looking at driving on some Forest Roads up there and I know some of them could be trouble for my vehicle if the roads got wet.....

[azbackpackr]

Also, Liz, monsoon what? As written, "monsoon" is an adjective, so I am totally lost to your meaning. Where is the noun?! Is it monsoon rain, monsoon thunderstorms, monsoon induced haboobs? I'm so confused. Did the North American Monsoon reach Arizona yesterday? I need to wait for Tucson to tell me it did.

Well, how about this... It rained for a little while, with some lightning and thunder. Then the sun came out and today is dry as a bone. However, it is building up again. I also think it may be raining at higher elevations to the south of here.

[chumley]

Just got an email from NOAA. I hope there's some moisture and not just dry-lightning sparking more fires!

Greetings Skywarn Storm Spotters!

Last Saturday, some of you had the opportunity to report strong winds and low visibilities due to blowing dust. This weekend, as early as Friday June 22nd, we are anticipating a considerably more active period of storm potential as the Monsoon makes its presence known to the Desert Southwest. Best chances for rain will remain east of the Lower Colorado River Valley but there will be at least some potential for hazardous conditions across our forecast area at some point or another in the Friday-Monday time frame.

[Jim_H]

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=37.434521952377736&lon=-108.07491302490234&site=pub&unit=0&lg=en&FcstType=text
I plan to head to Colorado to hike/ scramble Lavender this Saturday. I want monsoon rain and all that, just a few days later. We'll see if the 40% turns to storms. Sad irony, that once my foot recovers and I intend to start back up with my trips I left off with a month or so ago, the weather turns. At least it was high winds and cold in the mountains of CO prior to this, with only one or two good weekends.

[Jim_H]

Had some light showers last few days, and there is a nice lightning show off to the east right now. Monsoon season is here. The moist air really changes things. The desert has an odor to it. It smells good, but I don't know what it is. It might be a cow smell.

[big_load]

@Jim_H I love the smell of rain on sage. I didn't expect to experience it in OR.