We live in one of the most beautiful deserts in the world- the Sonoran Desert, which stretches from Central Arizona down into Mexico.
Under normal weather conditions, the Sonoran Desert experiences hot temperatures and very dry heat, but once summer rolls around, temperatures drop and our humidity and dew point rise. However, monsoons are not about rainfall. In fact, you might be surprised to learn that the monsoon is defined as “any wind that reverses its direction seasonally.”
Near the end of June and into early July, the wind patterns over the south of Mexico begin to switch. Winds will turn more to a south and southeasterly direction, bringing in moisture from the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of California.
As a result, the moisture combines with intense summer heat, producing thunderstorms in an around the Valley. It’s the most dangerous time of year for us.
These monsoon storms can produce heavy rain, dust storms, lighting, strong winds and flash floods.
2008 marked the first time the monsoon was defined by a season, beginning June 15th, lasting through September 30th.
In previous years, the average start date for our monsoon was July 7, usually lasting through mid-September.
While our summer monsoon can be exciting and even beautiful, storms can pop up at a moment’s notice, causing major damage. In the Desert Doppler15HD Forecast Center, we track the storms with Desert Doppler15HD to give you as much advance notice as possible before a monsoon hits. Early notice is the key to saving lives and property.
