Summer Monsoons

Photo by mosiah2v17 at Flickr 

In the last few days, Scottsdale has received over 2 inches of rain, depending on your location. Scottsdale Rainfall Report.  For a city that has 330 days of sun a year, these monsoon thunderstorms are a respite from the hot, dry days of June.  Wind shifts begin usually in early July, bringing moist subtropical highs from the Gulf of Mexico which meet up with the intensely hot, dry air of the low pressure desert.  Kaboom!!  Friction occurs, creating these beautiful cloud formations that build up behind the mountains, and with luck, dump rain onto our thirsty landscape.  From July to September, Scottsdale can receive 3 inches of rain, nearly a third of the annual total of 9 inches.  Whereas the storms flood the senses with beautiful sights, sounds, and desert smells, they also can bring dangerous lightning, flash floods, and high winds.  Enjoy, but be cautious.