Atmosphere Comparison

[Jim]

The endless chatter of weather.

[chumley]

@friendofThundergod
I don't know anything either. But it seems most tropical systems that contribute moisture to our weather find their way up the Sea of Cortez or the Baja peninsula. This one appears to be making a path across central Mexico toward the south tip of Texas.

[sneakySASQUATCH]

T storms are contributing to the sucking of my commute home At DFW. I could of done without the 35+ knot winds and poor visibility 100 miles offshore in the Gulf yesterday although I enjoyed the 150 knot ground speed on the way in from my platforms.

Oh and although Pikes Peak is hiding I've seen pics of a fresh coat of the white stuff and a basin got 9" inches last night bring it on!

[Jim]

@MtnBart01"a basin", you say? Was this any particular basin, or just any old one?


We aren't getting storms from this tropical storm because it is too far south, we are under the influence of westerlies and monsoonal south to southeast flow is no longer present, a high is moving in from the west or northwest, and we will be on the wrong side of any circulation for moisture to be pulled up (unlike in monsoon season). Mostly, it's just too far away.

We now have weak ridges and troughs with embedded weak lows to influence our weather.

[big_load]

Had it been headed for the east coast the internet would have exploded a week ago, every tv network would be 24/7, and 15 states would have declared emergencies.

It's still getting pretty good coverage here.

[Jim]

Flagstaff NWS speaks of a colder storm later in the week with snow levels down to 8,000'.

[Jim]

I do not think I can recall a summer and fall that have been this wet and stormy. Oh, how I miss the dry years.

[PatrickL]

Better El Nino than Montezuma.

[Jim]

How do we know they aren't really the same thing?

[nikorock28]

Well, I just checked the ten day forecast on weather.com and it looks like the winter cold will set in next week up here at the Grand Canyon. Highs in the 40s, lows in the low 20s, with a 50% chance of rain/snow forecasted on Wednesday, with a high of 40 that day. I am not ready for 5 months of cold. I am not sure how many more winters I want to bear.

[Jim]

Well, I did 5 in Flagstaff and another in remarkably similar Kayenta, and then it was pretty cold in 2012 to 2013 for the December to February period in Alamogordo, before my winters became mild in early 2014, so you'll probably be fine for one more at the South Rim. Then again, I was able to go to relatively balmy Sedona for the 5 years in Flag, and I was in Tucson a good amount from Kayenta and my first year in Alamo. So, without that maybe you'll go insane and end up living in Phoenix in a few years, too.

I just wish it it be more Arizona like, with dry sunny days, and these moist and overcast days would cease. If it makes you feel any better, with the waning daylight and expected wet and gloomy winter, aside from some hoped for Humphrey Summits this January and February, I am already looking forward to March and Spring.

[nikorock28]

Good points Jim. The closest location for "warmer" temperatures would be Cameron, but that requires driving on Desert View Dr. through higher, colder elevations and an icy roadway. Plus, what is there in Cameron anyways. Not really a favorable option. At least in Flagstaff, you could zip down to Sedona, another 15 minutes to Cottonwood (where it is truly warmer) or head down I-17 to Camp Verde, and be in 60 degrees in less than an hour. I grew up in southern CA and didn't experience any winter weather until I moved to Prescott in 2005 (even in CA, I always looked forward to summer), so the Canyon weather has been something I have had to adjust to. At least I now live in an apartment instead of the freezing cold travel trailer that I resided in my first two winters up here.

I feel like I am an anomaly amongst the vast majority of the locals up here. When it hits 80 degrees here in the summer (or even 75), people actually complain about how hot it is and how they yearn for cooler temperatures. I mention Prescott and people say that it is hot there. I really can't wrap my head around those two things. I think the biggest thing for me is that, you are waiting for spring/summer, but then you get the lingering snow in May, followed shortly by monsoonal rains and it never really feels like summer, ever. I am here now, but I don't see myself being here long term (for many other reasons than just the weather). I lived outside Phoenix for a few years in the BFE of Florence/Queen Creek/Casa Grande and the heat never bothered me. Sure, I don't hike in the heat, but in terms of livability, I find it much more favorable. Actually, I recall the worst time down south was when it rained for three straight days. Clearly, I am a warm weather person.

[Jim]

You sound like me, talking about the way people complain about 75 as hot, which it isn't, and the way it never really feels like summer there.

[azbackpackr]

@nikorock28
Ditto on your comments. I found summer this week at the bottom of Grand Canyon! It's still there! Walking down N. Kaibab Trail I passed miles of yellowing oaks, then willows and other trees and plants. Finally arriving at "The Box" there it was, Summer!

I'm glad my job is seasonal and I can leave the cold behind and head for the desert in winter.

[Jim]

I'm glad it is finally drying out and some lower dew points are back! What a weird and wet October.

[nikorock28]

@azbackpackr I was looking at a position in lake havasu city today. I checked the ten day forecast for the area and it was sunny, sunny, not a cloud in the sky, with zero chance of rain all ten days. How glorious! Then I checked the forecast for grand canyon to see highs in the upper 30s and chance of snow showers. Perhaps I will apply.

[azbackpackr]

@nikorock28
Let me know! I live 45 minutes from there all winter, and I have a spare kayak!

I don't even like to SEE the pretty new-fallen snow any more, how it decorates and changes everything. My last winter or two in Eagar I'd look out the window, see the new snow and say "YUCK!"

Whenever I had a chance I'd drive to Tucson, Yuma, Needles, Lake Havasu, etc. As soon as the road wound its way down out of the pines, the wide blue skies and long vistas of the desert would open up and suddenly I'd feel all better again.

[Jim]

Wow! The Flagstaff NWS calls for more than 6 inches of snow for elevations over 8500', and if I interpret the graphic correctly, up to a foot on the Peaks. Too little to snowshoe, but too much for me to hike the Inner Basin. Good thing I planned on a relaxing summit from Snowbowl. I just hope that isn't too deep to enjoy. Saturday should be fun!

For you White Mountain lovers, 12 to 16 inches, in the Baldy and Ski Apache area.

[nikorock28]

Well, first snow flakes of the year just hit up here at the Canyon. The car said 32 degrees. Not sure what will stick, just kind of blowing around at the moment.

[chumley]

AS OF 11AM...WED NOV 4 2015 FLAGSTAFF AIRPORT HAS RECORED 5.3 INCHES OF SNOWFALL SINCE MIDNIGHT. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 5.0 INCHES OF SNOW WHICH FELL IN 1925.

...ADDITIONAL SNOWFALL REPORTS...
KACHINA VILLAGE.....6.0.....621 AM
MOUNTAINAIRE .......5.0.....541 AM
MUNDS PARK............4.0.....623 AM
MORMAN LAKE.........4.0.....845 AM
FOREST LAKES..........3.0.....807 AM
WILLIAMS.................3.0.....523 AM
BELLEMONT.............2.7.....1100 AM
DONEY PARK...........1.0.....700 AM
PRESCOTT...........TRACE.....1030 AM

Snowbowl is reporting 6-10" so far and the forecast still calls for up to 20" above 8500' in the White Mtns.

[ASUAviator]

Quite the active day. Always like when the radar blues start showing up outside the valley