Wind, Dust & Rain Looking North From The Catalina Foothills — July 5, 2011 — Image by kenne
The desert monsoon season can include a dust storm before the rain. We had some dust, with 80 mph winds in parts of the Tucson area, but nothing like that in Phoenix to the north.
We arrived noticing the clouds to the northeast “Do you think we will finally get some rain?” “South of the city got rain last night, We missed out again.”
So went the conversation, weather again. Tiring of the topic, other topics began To work they’re way into our neighborly chat, As usual, avoiding topics of potential discord.
“What is that? “ “Did you hear that?” “Sounds like thunder, “was one reply, As the conversation continued.
Try as we may, the thought of rain remained In the background of each discussion topic. Why not? The months without rain, Record-setting temperatures were killing our plants.
“What is that?” “Did you hear that?” All eyes were directed toward the windows The dialog taking on a tone of excitement – “It’s rain!”
Not just your typical desert rain Where only a few drops make it to ground Most devoured by the dry Sonoran desert air, We were having a true gully washer!
Why is this image beautiful? It contains the first clouds seen in months, which is the forerunner for the desert monsoon. Image by kenne
The monsoon is building in the mountains to the south
Like a scout, moist air is exploring the desert to the north
In preparation for the invasion of the wet boots from across the border
The monsoon is moving its cloud formations across the mountains
With each passing day taking up position in the blue desert sky
Pushing up the humidity and the relative heat of 110 degrees in the shade
The monsoon is bringing a shift in the desert wind (Mariah)
Pulling moisture from the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico
Producing a radical change in the form of monsoon thunderstorms
The monsoon is adjusting the desert’s aperture
Creating a pattern of “burst” and “breaks”
From hot and cold air blurring the boundary between these realities
The monsoon is the ying to the desert’s yang
Each needing the extremes of the other
To maintain life and romance in the desert
The monsoon is a name from the far east
Now commonly used in the Sonoran desert
Personally, I would prefer Mariah
Way out west, they got a name For rain and wind and fire The rain is Tess, the fire’s joe and They call the wind Mariah
Sabino Canyon Creek is running low this year. Little rain in the Catalina’s and snow on Mount Lemmon has resulted in few spring wildflowers and no water running over the low-water crossings in the canyon.
In case you don’t know, southern California has got a lot of rain lately. The weather people have predicted that it was coming our way this weekend — the best chance for rain than we have had in months. Looks like southern California kept all the water and sent us a lot of wind and dust. I know, no rain goes along with the territory!
The above image was taken more near sunset, making for a more dramatic image than those in the following video.
View of The Catalina Mountains On A Rainy Afternoon (10 minutes) In The Desert. Image by kenne
We have been in Tucson for two months, which is the monsoon time of the year in the deserts of southern Arizona. Some areas have literally received several inches of rain, but less than a trace where we are in the Catalina Foothills. So, forgive me for behaving like a child and going out to play in the rain. I’m not sharing a photo of how wet I am, but sometimes one needs to let the child in you out. “. . . just singing in the rain, just singing in the rain, what a wonderful feeling, just singing in the rain.” I wish it was a easy to share my feelings as it is to share a photo, but if you focus on the photo the feelings will fine you and the child inside you.
Images by kenne
In case you don’t know, southern California has got a lot of rain lately. The weather people have predicted that it was coming our way this weekend — the best chance for rain than we have had in months. Looks like southern California kept all the water and sent us a lot of wind and dust. I know, no rain goes along with the territory!
The above image was taken more near sunset, making for a more dramatic image than those in the following video.
kenne
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