'Cause it's fun to pretend you own a boat too
For the next couple of months we Phoenicians will have something to worry about that the rest of the country has the freedom to avoid. No, it’s not 113 degree days and it’s not guessing how the Cards will do once the season starts. This uniquely Phoenician worry can be summed up in one word, monsoons.
In the past the definition of monsoon season was anytime the dew point stayed at 55 degrees or higher for more than three days consecutively. This was obviously a bit too complicated for the average Phoenician who lacked the equipment to determine dew points at a moments notice. This resulted in the national weather service switching the focus from monsoon season from dew points to the calendar, which happens to be a tool utilized by locals on a far more frequent basis. Good job National Weather Service, keep it up.
It is now official that Arizona monsoon season runs from June 15th to September 30th. That puts us right in the middle. But right in the middle of what you ask?
To newcomers to the valley the thought of Arizona being a place of dry heat and clear skys seems expected. Naturally they are in for a shock when they learn there is a section of the year where all rules are off and burning desert skys can fill with jungle style rains accompanied by near hurricane style winds.
When a monsoon hits the best thing you can do is stay indoors and surf the internet for last minute flood insurance because you never know how much rain will drop, for example, in 1984 almost 9.5 inches were dropped on the valley as a result of monsoons. This much rain can quickly flood the roads, parks and yes, even basements.
So prepare, because with close to two months left in monsoon season we can pretty much guarantee there are at least one or two monsoon that have yet to drop buckets of rain down on you like Kim Kardashian crying over lost jewelry.
August 8, 2012
