Mindless chit chat

[Jim_H]

The endless chatter of weather.

[Jim_H]

We'll probably have a good year for flowers in 2019, unless the winter goes almost totally dry. The formerly dead looking brittle brush is leafing out at the Preserve in Phoenix. Lots of small green things germinating, too. Lots of leaves on the ocotillo, so I wonder if they will grow their stems produce flowers.

[joebartels]

there hasn't been a really good springtime wildflower display in years

2017 was a superbloom in areas

[azbackpackr]

@joebartels
Oh, okay. I was in Oregon that spring. Forgot I had missed a spring.

[joebartels]

Lots of leaves on the ocotillo, so I wonder if they will grow their stems produce flowers.

Been a fair amount of comments online and in passing in the preserves ( 2 today alone ).
While I knew they leaf out after most significant rain events I looked it up and added

The bright crimson flowers appear especially after rainfall in spring, summer, and occasionally fall.

to [ Ocotillo ]

[Nighthiker]

@Nighthiker
You had 5 inches so far in Payson? I still don't see how there can be that much and no rise in Roosevelt. Perhaps the winter snow and rain will bring more storage this year.

The Payson basin drains into the East Verde and or Verde.

[sneakySASQUATCH]

Not bad for October

[RedRoxx44]

Wow , just got home about a half hour ago and a microburst or something here. Hail piled up all over, the roads flooded and the main wash with brown rapids in it. Going down to mom's house to see how her place fared. I have some vegetation around the yard that looks pretty beat up with the hail.

[chumley]

@RedRoxx44
I just saw there was a tornado warning up east of Flagstaff earlier. Weird how severe these random October storms can be sometimes.

[RedRoxx44]

Friggin hail shredded my gazebo mesh covering. Oh well another project for the spring. I'll have to take a shovel to the front yard tomorrow too. Got some pics tho!

[Nighthiker]

Just South of Payson today, and wished I had made a trip SE of Florence Junction or even Florence.

[Nighthiker]

1.27 inch of rain at home yesterday while I was visiting Tonto, Horton and See Canyon. While visiting Tonto and Horton I could here thunder and flashes of lightning so I decided to postpone Horton Creek. Stopped by Christopher Creek Campground and the ford was closed due to flooding [attachment=0]DSCN3774.JPG[/attachment

[Nighthiker]

Later in the day I visited See Canyon after a hail storm and heavy rainfall. I just went to the first crossing and did not go further due to potential of flash flooding

[Jim_H]

Looks like an nice weekend forecast for most places. An odd combination of snow and mild late October skies would make for a nice hike on the Peaks. I'm working, but...

[rcorfman]

It's really windy today, must be a cold front moving through. As I was climbing the Ridgeline trail in Deem Hills, my hat blew off and went about 20' up the side of the hill! I didn't count the extra aeg retrieving it though. When I was cresting the ridge line, the hat blew off again even though I was using the neck strap tight. Guess I shouldn't have trimmed my beard so much.

[Jim_H]

Hopefully, it cleans out the rather dirty air. It's been kind of brown for the last week.

[chumley]

I think October might've ruined winter. Will it ever rain again? Perhaps we can hope for a strong monsoon!

[Jim_H]

Well, a series of storms is headed to the northern half of California, but not so much for southern California or us. Maybe in December? I wouldn't establish causality so proximally as to strictly blame the tropical rains.

[Jim_H]

We may get 1 or 2 storms late next week and over next weekend. Monitor the QPF and discussions for more information.

[chumley]

The Thursday/Friday storm has been trending higher with 6-12" now forecast for the SF Peaks and 6-8" on the favored spots along the Mogollon Rim. That would make this the first substantial snow event for most of the high country this season.

[chumley]

The highest peaks now call for up to 14" by Friday, and a second storm Saturday night may push the total toward 20.