Monsoon weather.....what to expect and when to expect it? (Phoenix: work, house)

[nehazaidi]

Never experienced it and am curious to find out. I will be moving to Chandler this Friday..........

[twiggy]

I think it's fantastic! Monsoons start with a large and I mean as far as the eye can see dust storm. It is a wall of dust hundreds of feet high and looks as wide as the valley! You can see it move across the city. Following that there is usually a thunder storm with a lot of lightning. It's pretty cool to watch. The lightning is serious though, go inside and watch through the window. The local news will put out an alert and also show how many lightning strikes are hitting the ground. Really an amazing part of Arizona.

[nehazaidi]

Originally Posted by twiggy

I think it's fantastic! Monsoons start with a large and I mean as far as the eye can see dust storm. It is a wall of dust hundreds of feet high and looks as wide as the valley! You can see it move across the city. Following that there is usually a thunder storm with a lot of lightning. It's pretty cool to watch. The lightning is serious though, go inside and watch through the window. The local news will put out an alert and also show how many lightning strikes are hitting the ground. Really an amazing part of Arizona.

Thats scaring the @#%! out of me!

[nevercoldcall]

Just plan to stay inside and you're fine. One word describes the monsoon season:

HUMID!

Before living in Phoenix for 7 years, I lived in Vegas for 5, where I learned to love the dry heat; then I moved to Phoenix and learned that the dry heat ain't dry during monsoon season. It's hot and sticky and the air is so heavy.

Just plan to stay indoors as much as possible and you'll be fine. It's only 4 weeks or so and passes quickly. Chandler is a great area - enjoy!!

[Magnum Mike]

During the monsoon season, lightning strikes are frequent, and one important thing to do is stay away from tall trees, and don't be "The tallest" standing object in an open area since lightning always strikes such objects.

As others mentioned here, the best place to stay is inside. Also, make sure your expensive appliances, like a big screen TV, are plugged into surge protectors.

[Ponderosa]

Here is a hot insider tip for all you AZ newbies. Replace your windshield wiper blades in the next week or so BEFORE monsoon begins. If you have been here more than 90 days your wipers are completely dried out and will scrape on the windshield and not work. When the first rains hit, the store shelves will be stripped bare of the popular sizes of blades.

[twiggy]

I didn't mean to scare you, it's really a neat thing! I look forward to that time every summer. Where are you coming from?

[MotleyCrew]

I can't wait! We love thunder storms and the skys here are absolutely fantastic. The first thunderstorm here we experience had a thunder clap over our house so loud we thought a jet had hit the house. Have not yet seen the big Monsoon yet, just dust clouds and a little rain.

[asugraduate]

Here are some pictures I took last summer during monsoon season. The lightning pictures were taken from inside!

[ibarrio]

I miss the summer storms. We don't get them in California.