Here's the 2018 Monsoon Thread (Tucson, Kingman: homeowner, car, radio)

[SawuScimitar74]

Originally Posted by chaparrito

I have noticed that since "official" dates have been instituted for the monsoon season, people start moaning about wanting rain a lot earlier; like June 1st. I much prefer the older, more meteorological definition of three or more consecutive days at 55 degree dewpoints. An evaporative cooler is a much better indicator than all the weather wonks put together. Over 55 degrees dewpoint, little evaporation = no cooling = monsoon season has begun.

I agree. In my opinion, the older method makes more sense.

[SawuScimitar74]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

Agree 100%. The official "season" which the NWS established means very little in the big picture, especially the June 15th start date. We hardly ever have any kind of monsoon weather during all of June, and even the first part of July is often the same. It's usually after July 4th when the humidity increases and more storms start popping up here & there, but it really doesn't get fully established until the middle part of July.

Also, with the June 15th start date, you're correct that people start wishing for rain in June, which very rarely happens since June is the driest month of the year on average. Even when the monsoon is fully established, it's still not a guarantee that there will be rain ... in fact, some places in & around Phoenix, and much of the western part of AZ might have no rain all summer. We should be more focused the winter storm season (December through March) which produces more widespread precipitation, and is much more of a benefit to the water supplies than the summer monsoon.

June is indeed the driest month of the year and usually gets no rain at all. With what has happened in the past though, you can never completely rule out the possibility of a significant rain event during the month. It could've very well been what made the NWS establish June 15th as the official first day of the monsoon season.

As we've said before, the wettest June on record was 1972 with 1.7 inches of rain. I will tell you that I was surprised that the three days of dew points of 55 degrees or higher didn't even occur until July 13th that year. This came after it had come very close to occurring on June 5th. Even the second-wettest June on record (1955) came close to having a start date earlier than the 15th (it nearly began on June 12th that year). Had the monsoon season officially started on either June 5th or June 12th, the NWS would've without a doubt had to take a different approach to what the official first day of the monsoon season should be. Who knows? They might've just made it June 1st had that been the case.

Yeah the thunderstorms and moisture don't usually reach the Valley until the beginning of July. These last two years have nearly been right on the money with the average start date of July 7th. It started July 9th last year, and July 8th this year if you use the old school method.

[SawuScimitar74]

Originally Posted by KurtAZ

Dust storm in Chandler...now I have to clean out the pool again.../sigh

There was a dust storm at my house in Tempe as well. This came after we hit 115 degrees with 8% humidity.

[SawuScimitar74]

Originally Posted by Colt AZ

Here's hoping that every place in Arizona which needs moisture from Monsoon rains will receive them!

Agreed, considering how parched Arizona has been since August of last year.

[SawuScimitar74]

Originally Posted by meo92953

It didn't last long. Oh well, maybe next time.

What it did though was bring out some ugly little bugs, which swarmed my stoop. And this morning there was a huge spider out there. Tried to find out what it was but couldn't find the exact thing when I googled spiders. Never saw anything like that in Minnesota. Big body, black or dark brown. The legs were smaller than the body.

Anyway, I sprayed the little bugs last night & the spider this morning. The huge died, the spider disappeared in the crevices. Hope it dies & doesn't retaliate.

Normally I let outside things be unless they invade my space, but this was an invasion on my patio.

I hate bugs.

July 8th is when the monsoon season officially started if you use the old school method.

[SawuScimitar74]

We did get off to a great start here in the Valley. However, we haven't had any significant rain as of late. Hopefully we can get a lot of rain sometime soon. We can't afford another letdown like we had last year.

[KurtAZ]

Trying to get your post count up? Geesh!

[SawuScimitar74]

Originally Posted by KurtAZ

Trying to get your post count up? Geesh!

Not really. Just giving my responses to statements that I agree with.

[meo92953]

It's thundering. Fingers crossed. It's messing with my internet though.

[teddyearp]

Distant thunder, scattered drops last night. Not much really.