Mt. Lemmon Is Dry — Image by kenne
The Summer monsoon officially starts today.
However, nature didn’t get the message.
Whether in the desert valley or the mountains
the drought continues to preach the southwest.
Will this monsoon season be another nonsoom?
— kenne
A Flash Flood From The Past (09/08/14) — Image by kenne
— kenne
In 2010 we experience our first Sonoran Desert monsoon season. There was lots of rain, wind and lightning.
This year’s monsoon season has been a nonsoon! So far we have had only 2 inches of rain.
This weekend’s forecast was for heavy rains and flash flooding — somebody stole our rain!
So, for this monsoon season the best I can do is revisit an August 31, 2010 posting. — kenne
Catalina Foothills, Tucson, Arizona — image by kenne
During this summer’s rainy season, many storms have provided much-needed rain to southern Arizona. However, when it comes to rainfall, not all areas are treated equally. We had received little rain till the other evening, so when the rain began, it was a time to rejoice. So much is special about the desert. I wrote a poem and produced a video. You can read the poem below and/or in the video.
Desert’s Rainy Season
Desert’s rainy season is
A product of summer highs
Mixed with atmosphere lows
Bringing a refreshing brief break
To her blue-skied summer heat
Desert’s wide-open spaces
Provide panoramic views
Showcasing threatening clouds
Only too often breakup
Before reaching your sky
Welcoming rains come
Only at Desert’s well
Playing havoc with forecasters
Never seeming to learn
She does not keep time
Wind shaking the trees,
Olive, palo verde and mesquite
Shadowed by rains wetness
Shining with each lightning flash
While drinking of life’s fountain
Olives falling from twisted branches
Rolled by wind over wet flagstones
Pounding rain leaving behind puddles
As rainwater exits through openings
In old pueblo walls
Wind chimes dance wildly
Ringing out in nervous joy
Desert’s unlocked sounds
Composing a melodic refrain
Proclaiming Desert’s delight
— kenne
Usually, this time of year, when the temperatures are over 100 degrees, we start getting some monsoon rains.
So, yesterday when the dark clouds began moving in we would get some rain, and we did.
But only after some strong winds, reminding us much of a coming hurricane on the gulf coast.
Usually, wind gust in the desert doesn’t blow off the green olives on our patio tree,
but they did yesterday.
As the front moved through, we started to get some rain.
We received about one-quarter inch, the first rain in two months.
Images by kenne
Waiting For Summer Desert Rains — Photo-Artistry by kenne
— Tushar Ray
Sunrise at Sabino Canyon Recreation Area Dam — Image by kenne
Typically this time of year, there is no water coming over the dam
till the monsoon rains later this month through August. — kenne
— Esnala Banda
Tanuri Ridge Monsoon Night — Photo-Artistry by kenne
— kenne
Tracking the Storm — Image by kenne
— kenne
Haze and Cloud-line, More Humidity In the Air — Panorama by kenne
— kenne
Image by kenne
Storms,
Storms building
Over the mountains —
To the east,
To the north.
Towering,
Towering clouds,
Dry desert heat —
Colliding.
Rain,
Rain cooling the air —
Evaporating.
Wind,
Wind forming a Downdraft —
Bouncing (off the ground).
Curls,
Curls of wind —
High speed,
Havoc!
kenne
The Monsoon Rains Brings On the Texas Ranger Blossoms — Images by kenne
— kenne
Monsoon Lightning Over the Catalinas — Image by kenne
— kenne
“Star Power” Silverpuff Blossom In the Santa Catalina Mountains — Image by kenne
— kenne
The monsoon rains bring new life to the Sonoran Desert. This past week has experienced some very good rain fall, especially in the mountains. The start of the monsoon season brings out the Sonoran toads, but they breed in water, and even with the recent rains we have had several months of no rain and Sabino Creek remains dry. The above photo was taken this morning, but based on sighting a few miles up the creek, there maybe water flowing over the dam by night fall.
Down from the dam, there are few pools of water that Jeanne, Dan and I explored this morning and found some toads. The mating season will last only a few days, so with more rain expected today and tomorrow, and with water coming down the creek, the toads will probably be very active the next couple of days.
— kenne
Images by kenne
Sonoran Desert Monsoon Sunset (Tucson Arizona) — Image by kenne
The monsoon is here
rolling over the mountains
soaking the desert.
— kenne
