HikeArizona.COM

The endless chatter of weather.

@The Dude
Even here at 7000', snow abounds on the ground as it hasnt been warm enough to melt yet.

The long-term weather in NJ has been consistent with typical El Nino expectations (warmer and wetter than average).

Pinetop journalist Jo Baeza writes an interesting article about 1967's "Storm of the Century" which affected the White Mountains, Navajo Reservation and Flagstaff. It snowed for 9 days straight. 51 people died. Check it out:
http://www.wmicentral.com/news/show_low ... 7872f.html

There was a not so severe, but similar repeat after the late January storms of 2010, on the reservation.

The Phoenix NWS is talking about impressive central AZ rain totals, and the national QPF map has some substantial totals for the next 5 days. It reminds me a little of the January 2010 storm series from the middle to late part of that month, as that was the last time I remember living in Arizona and having a series of storms track over us and drop large totals.

Trouble is, this forecast doesn't appear to be favoring areas north of the Mogollon Rim, so it appears great for Phoenix watersheds, and ranges like the Mazzies, Anchas, Supes, Pinals, those around Prescott and Cottonwood, but not so great for the Peaks. I am seeing snow totals through Tuesday night that aren't even a foot at 11,496' on the west slope of the Peaks.

I woke up to thunder this morning! A couple hours later was the first time I saw any forecast include the possibility of severe weather as part of this system. Sometimes it helps to look out the window!

chumley wrote:I woke up to thunder this morning! A couple hours later was the first time I saw any forecast include the possibility of severe weather as part of this system. Sometimes it helps to look out the window!

I saw a flash of lightning on my way to work this AM!

Winter has finally arrived in NJ. Forecast low for tonight is 9F. I don't care how cold it gets, as long as it doesn't snow.

big_load wrote:Winter has finally arrived in NJ. Forecast low for tonight is 9F. I don't care how cold it gets, as long as it doesn't snow.

Oops! It was down to 6F already an hour ago. There's still about seven hours of cooling left.

I keep reading about how this week's weather consists of "El Niño-fueled storms".
My favorite from yesterday was "the El Niño Weather System"

Wasn't the entire dry month of December also El Niño - fueled? Or did that just happen on Sunday?

The northeast was in the 70s on Christmas because of El Niño but today it's in the teens. Is that also because of El Niño?

Or just selectively when it seems to make a good headline?

Don't forget the Polar Vortex!

Sandbags! Sandbags!
The little boy is giving Phoenix rain!

http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/loc ... /78306444/

I'm all for preparedness, but 1" of rain, (or even 3") over the course of a week is not typically the kind of thing that requires sandbag fortifications!

There's a reason that the National Weather Service has not issued any Flood Advisories, Flash Flood Watches, or Flash Flood Warnings in Arizona this week.

It's apparently enough to make people drive like there's 2 ft of snow of the road though.

Rain is coming a bit too early for wildflowers. Might be another grass year.

1 & 5/16 inches of rain in my gage this morning.

@johnlp
you have a gauge that measures in 16ths?

@nonot
Actually I think the rain is too late for wildflowers? November and December are the important months, both were obviously dry. Though, I'm fine with the desert carpeted in green grass instead.

I would prefer that my allergies not be anything like last spring. Whatever it was, from February in Organ Pipe, all the way to the end of May when I finally put the A/C on, my head was swollen shut. Flowers, no flowers, or grass, I don't care for it (my allergies). It was the first time in a decade or more, that I can recall having them like that.

I do like, "crowd pleasing poppies", as they have been condescendingly referred to, but I am not a snob for things like that. I like soft mozzarella, not some runny snob cheese from France, and bright orange poppies, not some delicate rare specimen that appears once every 25 years. See, I'm a man of simple tastes. I like dynamite, and gunpowder... And gasoline!

1.52 inch of rain since midnight at my home in Payson and snow has been falling since sunrise.

Got a nice .48 inch from the first storm, but the second one which gave Phoenix and points north a great soaking, only yielded a trace down here. More coming though.

You guys had some Decent Rain at Thanksgiving didn't you? (I don't know, I was in NM) But yes, the late Year Rains seem to be the deciding Factor...Too much Rain in January/February can actually hinder I think....