The Arizona monsoon can be exciting and even beautiful. However, they can pop up at a moments notice which can cause major damage and even deadly. At ABC15, Bill Bellis and the Weather Team track the storm to give you as much notice as possible before it hits. Early notice is the key to saving property and lives.
In Tucson, scientists from around the country study the monsoon like no one else has ever done before. Weather planes have been stocked with the latest technology in hopes of learning how to predict these storms well in advance. If atmospheric conditions cooperate, every morning the planes will take off from the Marana airport for an hour flight.
When the plane gets in the air, a camera mounted on the outside of the plane sends data back to the inside where scientists are bale to watch the clouds form into what may be the start of a monsoon storm." Just about everything you can think of when you think about weather can be measured with this aircraft," said Scientist, Larry Olmand.
The same time the plane is in the air, additional scientists are on the ground launching weather balloons. "It gives you a vertical profile of the atmosphere at that point," said Brian Pedigrew, a balloon expert.
When the balloon goes up, it takes readings that later will help scientists learn about the monsoon.
All of the data collected ends up in a command center where Joe Zehnder is the scientist in charge of the project. "My days are pretty busy."
Information about the cloud formation, moisture in the air and more all come into play when predicting the monsoon. "Improving the forecasts are our main goal and we’re optimistic that we can do that," said Zehnder.
These improved forecasts can make a big difference to you when the storms roll into the Valley. "If you give people 12 hours of notice and lead time that a severe storm is going to occur instead of warnings a half an hour before based on radar, you can prepare people a lot better for some of these extreme life threatening events."
