Esperero Trail in Sabino Canyon — Image by kenne
Near-record monsoon rains have turned Sabino Canyon into a desert oasis.
Sabino Creek Dam — HDR Image by kenne
Archive for the ‘Monsoon Rains’ Category
The Greening of Sabino Canyon 2 comments
Mexican Yellow and American Snout Butterflies 4 comments
Mexican Yellow and American Snout Butterflies — Images by kenne
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Monsoon Clouds 2 comments
Monsoon Clouds in B & W — Image by kenne
desert clear blue skies
making room for monsoon clouds
and much needed rain
— kenne
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Butterflies And Desert Flowers After Monsoon Rains 2 comments
Surphur Butterflies on Creosole Bush Blossoms In Sabino Canyon (July 27, 2021) — Images by kenne
The recent monsoon rains have greened up the canyon, bringing out a lot of butterflies.
Unfortunately, I only had my 18-70 mm lens, so trying to photograph
the mostly surphur butterflies became challenging.
— kenne
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Monsoon Sunset Leave a comment
Monsoon Sunset — Image by kenne
With just a few days left in July, Tucson has already received 5.71 inches of rain, making this the fourth-wettest July.
I have recorded 7 inches on our patio in the Catalina Foothills. This amount of rain will help Southern Arizona recover
from the ongoing drought, improving from a D4-exceptional drought to a D3-extreme drought (National Weather Service).
There are indications that monsoon activity will start uo again toward the end of the week.
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Monsoon Strom Over The Mountains 1 comment
Monsoon Strom Over The Mountains — Image by kenne
monsoon strom comes forth
building over the mountains
much needed rain falls
— kenne
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Mt. Lemmon Is Dry! 4 comments
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
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Don’t Get A Stupid Driver Fine 4 comments
A Flash Flood From The Past (09/08/14) — Image by kenne
Where we live, flash floods
are common during late summer,
but not this summer of little rain.
We live off of River Road,
a two-lane desert road
with low-water crossings.
Driving in a monsoon storm
requires extra vigilance in a
state with a stupid driver law.
— kenne
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Ten Years Ago When We Had A Monsoon Season 1 comment
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
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One Hell Of A Wind Storm Late Yesterday 5 comments
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
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Waiting For Summer Desert Rains 1 comment
Waiting For Summer Desert Rains — Photo-Artistry by kenne
The clouds are stacking up high
In that clear blue afternoon sky
Turning the scorching sun to mere silver lining
Raising a cool hope in all desert being
Is that the long-awaited monsoon coming?
Who would know?
The wind blows westward steadfast
Giving the convoy of clouds a warm piggyback
But who knows when…?
The clouds will turn into precious monsoon rain
Or just evaporate spontaneously once again!
Oh monsoon rain
You kept us all in clear suspense
Desert being are dreaming of you for so long
Are you, or are you not visiting us soon?
The clouds have covered the June evening sky
Colored light brown like bowl of boiled rice
Signaling monsoon rain may be on its way
Sooner we can hope for something real nice!
— Tushar Ray
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Sunrise At Sabino Dam Leave a comment
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
*****
The river- was, but died away,
leaving behind sand and stone,
a dry river bed.
The river that once led the way,
To Rameses throne,
Has no more life- dead.
The river from which reeds grew and swayed,
now dead and gone,
all that’s left-a dry river bed.
The river that was marvelous by day,
and treacherous once the sun was gone,
is now but a dri river bed.
The river- beautiful, no words could say,
left behind – just a dry river bed.
— Esnala Banda
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Tanuri Ridge Monsoon Night 1 comment
Tanuri Ridge Monsoon Night — Photo-Artistry by kenne
Lightning strikes near by
Tanuri Ridge Monsoon Night
Flashes of brilliance.
— kenne
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Tracking The Storm Leave a comment
Tracking the Storm — Image by kenne
The monsoon is here
Expecting some rain from Bud
Shifting to the east.
— kenne
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Is The Monsoon Season On Its Way? Leave a comment
Haze and Cloud-line, More Humidity In the Air — Panorama by kenne
I was up on Mt. Lemmon today, where they are not allowing any outdoor fires at campsites because the Santa Catalina Mountains are so very dry. Even though it was a hazy day, I took the panorama with the haze and cloud-line showing how moisture is beginning to move into southern Arizona. Hopefully, we will start to see some rain by mid-June.
— kenne
Becoming is Superior to Being 