What is the monsoon?

We live in arguably the most beautiful desert 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 the summer monsoon rolls around, temperatures drop and our humidity and dew point rise.

 

Our monsoon is not all about rainfall. In fact, you might be surprised to learn that the monsoon is defined as “any wind that reverses its direction seasonally.”

In late June and early July, the wind patterns to our south over Mexico begin to shift.  Winds flow out of a south/southeasterly direction, bringing in moisture from the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of California and even the Gulf of Mexico.

 

That moisture combines with intense summer heat, producing thunderstorms across Arizona.

 

It’s the most dangerous time of year for us.

These monsoon storms can produce heavy rain, dust storms, lightning, strong winds and flash floods.

In 2008, our "monsoon season" was defined as June 15th through September 30th.

In previous years, we tracked dew point temperatures to see when enough moisture had arrived to call it the monsoon.  The average start date was July 7th, usually lasting through mid-September.

While our summer monsoon can be exciting and even beautiful, storms can pop up in an instant, causing major damage.

 

In the Desert Doppler15 Forecast Center, we track the storms with Desert Doppler15 radar to give you as much advance notice as possible before a storm hits your neighborhood.  Early notice is key to saving lives and property.