Drought monitor website (Phoenix, Benson: house, art, move)

[LordBalfor]

Found this link posted on another (non-Arizona) thread and thought folks here might find it of interest:

State Drought Monitor

This particular page is the drill-down for Arizona but from there you can navigate back up to the national level. It seems to validate what local raingauges down by my land in SE Arizona have been indicating - that SE Arizona is doing considerably better than the rest of the state in regards to rainfall - while the extreme western regions of the state are in a pretty severe drought

Ken

[Gretchen B]

Thanks for the link. That's a really informative chart.

[Valley Native]

I hate to say this, but the reason this thread isn't getting very much attention is very few people are attentive enough to realize there's a drought going on here. The drought began about 11 years ago, and has been a continuous plague on Arizona ever since. In the past 11 years, only 1998 was was wetter than normal. Practically every winter season & summer monsoon since 11 years ago has experienced substantially below normal precipitation.

If anybody doesn't believe the kind of serious impact a drought like this can have on a region, all you have to do is look at what's happening in southern California. The lack of moisture over there has caused tinder dry conditions (more than usual). Once the hot, dry Santa Ana winds blow in, all that brush is fuel for the fire. Yet, people still insist on living in the hills with all that risk ... and people still keep gloating how beautiful our never ending sunny, warm, dry conditions are. Doesn't anybody look at the big picture?!

[LordBalfor]

Hopefully you are wrong. I mean, I would think that anyone would realize that water is THE issue of the SW.

But then again, maybe you are right. In truth, I wasn't expecting a lot of feedback. The post wasn't really meant to provoke a response, merely to provide a helpful and interesting link. I do truly hope people find it helpful.

Ken

[FirebirdJones]

It is interesting, although I am the opposite of most people. I love drought conditions. Right now SW Ohio has had there driest season on record, something like 15 inches below normal and people were all crazy about their grass turning brown,,,,lol.

I was in heaven,,,,I hate mowing grass (severe allergies) and the dry weather allowed me to play with the cars more often.
You could stick me in the middle of the desert and I would be the happiest man alive. I just hate rainfall, my wife does as well. Summers are just too short here in Ohio to have rainfall get in the way.
One of the reasons we are coming to Arizona. Although I understand there is always the risk of fire, We are just making sure we don't buy a house in the middle of a forest. I much rather prefer a house with sand and rock, getting older, less maintainance

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by FirebirdJones

It is interesting, although I am the opposite of most people. I love drought conditions. Right now SW Ohio has had there driest season on record, something like 15 inches below normal and people were all crazy about their grass turning brown,,,,lol.

I was in heaven,,,,I hate mowing grass (severe allergies) and the dry weather allowed me to play with the cars more often.
You could stick me in the middle of the desert and I would be the happiest man alive. I just hate rainfall, my wife does as well. Summers are just too short here in Ohio to have rainfall get in the way.
One of the reasons we are coming to Arizona. Although I understand there is always the risk of fire, We are just making sure we don't buy a house in the middle of a forest. I much rather prefer a house with sand and rock, getting older, less maintainance

I wonder if you'll feel the same way when restrictions on water usage are in place. Thankfully, we haven't had any in the Phoenix metro area so far (thank God for the CAP) ... however, other parts of the state have had restrictions. But don't get too comfortable yet. If the Southwest keeps having winters lacking in rain & snow, restrictions are forthcoming. How will you handle mandatory conservation measures, such as no car washes, no pool usage, restrictions on when you can use your tap, flush the toilet, etc.?

Honestly, this is the first time I ever saw anybody proclaim that they love drought conditions. That's a new one! Since you love the hot, dry conditions so much, might I suggest that you dig for your own water when you move here? We'll find out then how much you really enjoy the drought when all you get is hard ground and heat stroke.

[LordBalfor]

Well, for what it's worth, the rain measurements out at J-6 near Benson have been climbing steadily over the last 4 years up from 6 inches or so to over 14 so far this year (14 is the historical norm). As I mention on a previous post SE Arizona is actually doing very well this year in the rain department. Rest of the state is not however.

Ken

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by LordBalfor

Well, for what it's worth, the rain measurements out at J-6 near Benson have been climbing steadily over the last 4 years up from 6 inches or so to over 14 so far this year (14 is the historical norm). As I mention on a previous post SE Arizona is actually doing very well this year in the rain department. Rest of the state is not however.

Ken

SE Arizona receives a lot more rain on average during the summer monsoon than many other parts of the state. The last two summers have been normal to above normal as far as precipitation in the eastern part of AZ. That accounts for why the drought has lessened in the eastern sections.

However, in much of Arizona (especially the western & northern parts), winter is the chief precipitation season. Eight out of the past ten winters have been significantly lacking in snowfall in the high country, and lacking in rainfall in the lower elevations. Remember that the snowpack determines how much spring runoff there will be for the water supplies. Only 1998 & 2005 had above normal runoff. The last two winters were extremely dry ... and the outlook for this winter is for more of the same.

[LordBalfor]

That's as I understand it too - part of the reason I chose the SE corner of the state for retirement (milder temps and a bit greener). Overall the entire SW corner of the country is in trouble water-wise.

Ken

[FirebirdJones]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

I wonder if you'll feel the same way when restrictions on water usage are in place. Thankfully, we haven't had any in the Phoenix metro area so far (thank God for the CAP) ... however, other parts of the state have had restrictions. But don't get too comfortable yet. If the Southwest keeps having winters lacking in rain & snow, restrictions are forthcoming. How will you handle mandatory conservation measures, such as no car washes, no pool usage, restrictions on when you can use your tap, flush the toilet, etc.?

Honestly, this is the first time I ever saw anybody proclaim that they love drought conditions. That's a new one! Since you love the hot, dry conditions so much, might I suggest that you dig for your own water when you move here? We'll find out then how much you really enjoy the drought when all you get is hard ground and heat stroke.

Sounds like you hate it,,,,maybe you should just move