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| Storm Chasing | |
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| no partners | | Hey, why not head out Arivaca way on a day with heavy weather in the forecast? Flood watch in effect and already saturated conditions could make for an interesting day.  This is prime country for heavy rain and runoff, so let's go! My goal was to stop in the store in Arivaca and buy some coffee beans, but we all know the real reason was for weather watching and photography. I left Tucson about 1030, about the time the flood watch went into effect, and things were starting on schedule. 
It was still pretty quiet by the time I reached Arivaca to buy the coffee beans, but I knew that wouldn't last long.  My plan was to make a loop drive out of the trip, heading back to Tucson by way of Buenos Aires and SR 286 to Three Points. After the stop in Arivaca, I checked out a portion Arivaca Creek Trail, but didn't linger too long with the soggy/muddy conditions and rain threat. I encountered some heavy rain as I approached SR 286. I got my cell signal back, so checked the radar loop and ponder my next move. This wasn't your typical monsoon pattern, but heavy tropical overcast with little thunder action, so embedded heavy rain cells could pop up anywhere quickly. Unfortunately, the heaviest action was over the Baboquivari Mountains and along the road north I hoped to travel on. It is about 30 miles to reach Three Points, and there are some massive wash crossings along the way, so I wasn't confident I would get far. I didn't. There was heavy flow across the highway at what I think is Santa Margarita Wash, vehicles stopped on either side to wait for safe crossing conditions to return. This could take some time, so I decided to turn around and head back the way I came (better than sitting there bored). 
I got through the rain area and it was still nice at Arivaca, but I could see heavier showers in the distance, so I knew I still might have some flooded roadway issues on my way back to I-19. Most of the wash crossings were dry or running lightly, but I still had to get through that section from Marley Cattle on the the border patrol checkpoint, which can be a problem. There were increased flows in that zone, but nothing that forced me to stop. I'm sure the Sheriff Dept. vehicle that tailed me back the whole way was impressed by my driving.
Interestingly, the most intense rain I drove through for the day was on I-19 headed back to Tucson. It was especially so in the Green Valley area. The biggest challenge was sweating out what the other drivers were doing, not the rain. 
That was a fun little adventure, with some free car washes thrown in too!  |
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Wildflowers Observation Moderate
I wasn't paying attention to flowers this trip  |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
