Does it rain all summer in Prescott? (relocating, travel)

[Vigilante]

I've heard that it rains quite a bit in Prescott during the summer. I want to take a road trip out there this summer, but will wait for a dryer season if I'm just going to get rained out. I was hoping that some of you guys could shed some more light on this subject for me. How much does it rain during the summer?

[Gretchen B]

I'm thinking of the best way to describe our summer rains. I guess I should say it rains frequently (as in every day or two) but it doesn't rain much. It will typically start clouding up around noon to 2:00, then it will rain really hard for about 20 - 30 minutes and then the sun will come back out. Sometimes the sun is even shining while it's raining! It's really fun. Also, the rains will be very spotty. It can be raining "cats and dogs" in Prescott and be sunny and dry a mile away.

Definitely don't let our monsoon season stop you from visiting in the summer. For me, this is the prettiest time of the year up here in Prescott. The mountains/grass/plants are at their greenest, the wind is just a very light breeze, and our evening temps are down in the 60's. If you opt for a visit at a "dryer" time of year, then mid-September through mid-November is very nice. The leaves will start changing in mid-October.

[junebug1961]

What month do the monsoons start?

[Lovehound]

Originally Posted by Gretchen B

I'm thinking of the best way to describe our summer rains. I guess I should say it rains frequently (as in every day or two) but it doesn't rain much. It will typically start clouding up around noon to 2:00, then it will rain really hard for about 20 - 30 minutes and then the sun will come back out. Sometimes the sun is even shining while it's raining! It's really fun.

You Prescottonians are so fortunate! Here in Los Angeles we rarely have anything at all during the summer except warm to hot to very hot days and almost never a cloud in sight. It's booorrrriiinnnnngggggg!!!

One reason I'm considering relocating to Prescott or one of the other many great places is because I'm sick of LA's boring weather and rare rain. We don't even hardly have clouds very often except the low overcast we call May Gray and June Gloom. I like traveling in the Southwest where it's the usual thing to have nice puffy cumulus clouds somewhere in the sky. And rain? A little water never hurt anybody.

[zonababe]

Coming from NY where it seemed to rain every weekend, the monsoon season seems like a small amount of rain. For me the monsoon season is always fun and always welcome. Seldom does it rain too much.

[MichaelinWA]

Yeah, probably two or three inches in a month, at most, in late summer. Not exactly a deluge. More like a refreshing change.

Originally Posted by zonababe

Coming from NY where it seemed to rain every weekend, the monsoon season seems like a small amount of rain. For me the monsoon season is always fun and always welcome. Seldom does it rain too much.

[BiggsHomes]

Originally Posted by junebug1961

What month do the monsoons start?

Monsoon season starts in July and runs through September. The storms are beautiful. The day will heat up to the 90s and then around 1 or 2 o'clock, the storms will hit and the air cools down to the mid 70s. There's lightening and thunder and hard rain for an hour or two and then the sun is shining again. Gorgeous!

[Hassayampa Slim]

Moderator cut: linking to competitors sites is not allowed
Remember these are averages, and the Southwest has been in a drought for some time. Old timers in Prescott will tell you how almost every afternoon in July and August they got their "Monsoon Shower" almost like clockwork. They still get quite frequent short showers but for the last few years they have not been as regular.

To anyone coming from the East or South, these showers will really seem insignificant, and actually quite welcome as the afternoon temperature climbs.

Prescott is a beautiful place, but unfortunately has changed a lot in the past twenty years or so. There is not a lot of work there, and what is there is mostly retail and service related. There has been a lot of West Coast retirement there, which has driven property prices pretty much out of reach for people who have to work there. Our son struggles there, loving the area, but realizing he will probably never own a house. He's single, loves the outdoors, and has a decent job, so for the time being he's willing to make the trade-off.

Don't let the frightening name "Monsoon" scare you ; come on out and I'm sure you will enjoy every day.

[Gretchen B]

Originally Posted by Lovehound

You Prescottonians are so fortunate! Here in Los Angeles we rarely have anything at all during the summer except warm to hot to very hot days and almost never a cloud in sight. It's booorrrriiinnnnngggggg!!!

One reason I'm considering relocating to Prescott or one of the other many great places is because I'm sick of LA's boring weather and rare rain. We don't even hardly have clouds very often except the low overcast we call May Gray and June Gloom. I like traveling in the Southwest where it's the usual thing to have nice puffy cumulus clouds somewhere in the sky. And rain? A little water never hurt anybody.

Yep - west coaster's really love a good thunderstorm, complete with big ol' thunderheads, lightening and thunder. What's really cool is watching the clouds build later in the afternoon, getting the brief monsoonal downpour, and then when the sun comes out it's close to sunset. Really makes for beautiful summer sunsets around here.

[esselcue]

I can remember when I first moved here (24 years ago) you could set your watch by the summer monsoons (July through August)...but our climate has changed and we have not had those reliable rains for several years now. They still come, but nowhere near what it used to be, unfortunately. We haven't had much winter snow either, for quite a few years. Drought, so they say. Hope it goes back the way it was...but while we do still get summer rains, they are notjing, in my opinion and according to my rain gauge, like they were "back in the day"