HikeArizona.COM

The endless chatter of weather.

Something funky going on with NWS FLG website

7.58" is a good month.

And Randy, what's wrong with FLG flat-lining at 65-degrees since yesterday afternoon? As if that couldn't ever happen!? :roll:

This is from the NWS FLG Facebook page:

"Light rain showers moved over Flagstaff airport from around 10 p.m. until midnight July 31, producing an additional 0.01" of rainfall according to an alternate rain gauge placed at the airport by a National Weather Service employee. So, despite equipment problems at the standard gauge, this will go down as a tie for the wettest July ever with 7.58" of rainfall."

Guess there was a power failure or some type of equipment failure right about the time the reports stopped at the 5:57 observation. :roll: I really wanted to see that 7 o'clock report, because there was a small area of weak echoes that passed over the station between 6 and 6:20. This was just after the .01 was recorded prior to the 5:57 report (which apparently was changed to a trace). And what about that backup gauge, was it operational at the time, or placed there afterward (sounds like that might be the case, meaning the data between 6-7 may not have been recorded). The least the guy could have done was spill some of his soda into it for good measure!

Very heavy rain totals all over the northern parts of the state. http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/fgz/Monthly_Sum ... Review.pdf I wonder how my old garden in Kayenta might have faired.

After the wet July, I'm loving this early August dry spell. A bit odd that it is during the time which is more typically the wet peak of the season, but I love it all the same.

1 found dead in the flash flood debri from yesterday in Cascade along the 24.

Now two weeks in to August, and it's been noticeably drier than July. We actually had some good rains over here during the last week, but a review of radar estimates and totals in Arizona and other parts of the SW shows sharp drops off in rain. After July, it's probably nice. Of those places in Arizona that have stations, most report less than 1/4 of an inch so far, for August. My guess, is that many places around the state were saturated and didn't really need anything more until it dried out. One can hope this may indicate a drier late monsoon possibly from a developing El Nino, but I doubt that. Moisture is supposed to return this week, to Arizona.

After a great July the monsoon has been a big dud here in Tucson in August (so far).

Any estimate for rain totals in places like the Pusch Ridge, or the bulk of the Catalinas/ Mt Lemmon?

@Jim_H
I have no idea about that, only talking about in town. .29 at my house for the month...way below the 2+ inches in a good year. That is pretty typical though, usually either July or August will be wet, while the other is deficient. But you are right, because of the abundance of precip in July, things are looking good.

I'm glad it's winding down. It has been one of the wettest summers I can remember up here in the White Mtns. My lawn mower has broken twice. It's running now, thankfully. I have half an acre to mow. In order to keep things looking spiffy you have to mow at least twice a week.

Randy,

I just meant in general. Last July, things were way below at the Palisades Ranger Station, and the Pusch is usually quite dry when I see it. Well, not this spring actually. The snow and rain had produced a lot of springs and flowing water. Anyway, I just meant in general. My guess, is the Catalina were way over for July, and are now below for August. As you said, it does seem one is usually above and the other below. Given the choice, a wet July is probably better for the vegetation, which is staving for water by late June.

Liz, sheep, get sheep, and then eat them.

@Jim_H
Nicely covered Jim on both fronts! Way better to get the better rains in July to rescue us from the dry spring. The mountains around here (Catalinas, Rincons) have been hit with good rains both months, so overall this has been a good summer. But New Mexico has done even better.

Jim_H wrote: Liz, sheep, get sheep, and then eat them.

Ditto that. Or guilt your kids into taking care of things for you. That's what my parents do.

I haven't mowed my lawn in five weeks. Of course I don't live in lush, green AZ.

chumley wrote:

Jim_H wrote: Liz, sheep, get sheep, and then eat them.

Ditto that. Or guilt your kids into taking care of things for you. That's what my parents do.

So, they should drive 12 hours to mow my lawn? ;)
I think moving away is a much better idea!

Looks like rain has moved back in to the Flagstaff and northern Arizona areas, not so much southern Arizona. Either way, your dry spell has ended. I hoped for one over here, but it just started to rain.

Jim_H wrote:Looks like rain has moved back in to the Flagstaff and northern Arizona areas, not so much southern Arizona. Either way, your dry spell has ended. I hoped for one over here, but it just started to rain.

A little early morning rain, like the old song, and then it has cleared up, both today and yesterday. I dried laundry on the line yesterday and have some up today as well.

Now, I know it depends on your altitude and latitude, but summer sure seems short. I realized it is now late August, and looked at some pics from my trips I enjoyed last September to Colorado and Utah peaks, and noticed that it is probably not even a month until the peak of color in the aspen trees in Colorado and Utah. I don't have blocks of days to get to them, but maybe northern New Mexico, or down here in October? Flag usually has it's peak of aspen in the last week of September ;) so not much more time until that comes. Sure, some will complain of 90 degree highs at the end of September, but I rather than than dreary gray overcast fall days. Either way, summer is really at an end. Anyone have any interesting trips planned over the coming weeks?

Since this is a weather related thread, the Autumnal Equinox is September 22nd at 14:44.

I wrote a heartfelt missive about depression, short days, the cold, having to wear shoes, (I hate wearing shoes to work, at home or in town, always prefer Teva sandals) etc...but it got lost in cyberspace. When I lived in Tucson I did look forward to the fall, but living up on the mountain, all I can think about is wanting to get out of here before I have to spend $400 on filling my propane tank.

For me, though, nothing compares to the bright, bright wide winter sky in western Arizona. That sunny winter climate is guaranteed to drive the blues away. There is so much sunshine, and it is so nice and dry out there. I hope I can spend some time along the Lower Colorado River this coming winter.