Happy Summer Solstice and Monsoon!

Summer Solstice!

About 5:30 this morning, 

west (above) and east (below).

In Tucson, the summer solstice means it's monsoon season! We celebrate rain here in the desert like people up north celebrate the longest day of sunlight on June 21. 

We get excited when there's a buildup of clouds in June because it means that rain for a hot, thirsty desert is on the way! Our monsoon officially runs from June 15-September 30, but obviously the weather doesn't follow that exactly.

This is my third summer here, but I haven't experienced a "normal" monsoon yet. The first summer we hardly had any rain, so it was called a "non-soon." The second summer we had record high rainfall -- about 12 inches versus the average six, with a lot of flooding and leaking roofs. This year they're predicting a wetter than usual monsoon, and the rain has already started.

The monsoon begins when prevailing winds switch from the west to the southeast and bring moisture in from the Gulf of California and Gulf of Mexico, which brings rain and some very strong winds. Most of our summer days begin clear and warm, then giant clouds develop in the afternoon and tower over the mountains.

 

The clouds dump huge quantities of rain in a short time in a concentrated area, and these cloudbursts create strong winds, lightning and flash flooding. Our dry river beds become raging torrents, and sometimes water carries away vehicles when they try to drive on flooded roads. 

The temps can drop 10-20 degrees during the rain, in my experience, from in the 90s and 100s down to the 70s and 80s. Even the upper 80s can feel blessedly refreshing after a high of 110.

The welcome rains also bring a second wildflower season in the Sonoran Desert. 

Wildflowers from last summer's monsoon.

In addition, the rain brings out bugs and other creatures, like this tyrannosaurus rex eating a traffic light at the corner of Grant and Tanque Verde last night! Actually, this guy is there year round in front of a McDonald's. I took the picture on my way home from watching the new "Jurassic Park."

And speaking of hot weather, here's an update on my air conditioning situation: It's a stifling 94 degrees in the house, slightly lower in the bedroom where I have a portable cooler, and I have three more days before the new system will be installed and life will get back to normal. I spent the weekend at a friend's house but didn't want to wear out my welcome so I'm home again. Maybe I'll tap another friend tonight.

Have a colorful day