Guess the non-NWS beginning of the monsoon season (Phoenix, Scottsdale: airport, garage)

[kell490]

NWS says next week we could get Thunderstorms today I'm seeing humidity rise with high heat.


National Weather Service Text Product Display
NWS discussion website

A very warm air mass will maintain above normal temperatures through
the first half of next week. A gradual increase in moisture is likely
to affect portions of Arizona leading to a threat for showers and
thunderstorms initially to high terrain areas and then finally to the
lower deserts starting next week.

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

Just got a quick dust storm here in Central Phoenix

[AZDesertBrat]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Dang! That is what I was going to pick. Seriously, though it rained twice already at my place up north. Not much, it's true, but Flagstaff had record June rainfall. There is rain in SE AZ this morning. The monsoon high has been in place since the heat wave began but just not the best position for this part of the state. Next week for here?

I saw where Flagstaff got rain and I saw those huge black clouds east of us but, just like I figured, our 20% chance of rain never materialized. I saw on the weather channel that they are again predicting rain but only a 10% chance so that means nada. And that for next midweek. The SE always gets a ton of rain and thunderstorms. I'm thinking about taking part of my vacation down there in August.

[AZDesertBrat]

Originally Posted by ElleTea

The later the better, please!

Oh c'mon. You are such a party pooper! lol

[BIG CATS]

Originally Posted by FirebirdCamaro1220

Just got a quick dust storm here in Central Phoenix

Really? I missed it? Dang it.

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

Originally Posted by BIG CATS

Really? I missed it? Dang it.

It only went as far west as about 7th St, and was sunny west of that line

[ElleTea]

Originally Posted by FirebirdCamaro1220

It only went as far west as about 7th St, and was sunny west of that line

I caught the northern edge of it in central Phoenix , blowing and dusty.

[teddyearp]

Originally Posted by ElleTea

I hate the cloudy days the monsoon brings, and the endless dust. The storms aren't even interesting to watch from the perspective of this girl who grew up in Tornado Alley. If any rain actually falls it is just enough to make my car dirty again. It's my least favorite time of the year here. I cherish the rare short weeks of sunny, cloudless skies and hot temps that we have right now. It never lasts long enough before monsoon starts.


The one thing I miss about where I used to live are real thunderstorms and the fresh smell of rain that follows. Here it just seems to rain dirt and smells like it after!

Originally Posted by ElleTea

I do. Every time I can. That is what you do in the Midwest, you go outside and watch the sky as the storm rolls in. There is an energy that I can't describe and the smell of the incoming storm is amazing.


Here? VERY low energy and it smells AWFUL. I don't smell butterscotch at all (though I also hate butterscotch in general), I just smell stinky wet dust. YUCK


After the rain in the Midwest you wanted to open the windows and let that fresh, clean scent in...here you make sure the winds are shut to keep the stench OUT.


I dread the rain here like I dreaded the snow there. I cherish days like today with clear sunny skies and a hot wind.

Originally Posted by ElleTea

We do need rain, yes. But it seems most of "monsoon" is just dust, dirt, and clouds with not much actual rain. That is the part I HATE and dread. If it would rain actual water that would be great instead of just storms of dust.

Elle, you need to move to the mountain. Then your whole opinion on the AZ monsoon season would change in an instant and you would reap the rewards of the memories of which you speak. Without the threat of real tornadoes. Nor the smell of butterscotch, lol.

[ElleTea]

Originally Posted by teddyearp

Elle, you need to move to the mountain. Then your whole opinion on the AZ monsoon season would change in an instant and you would reap the rewards of the memories of which you speak. Without the threat of real tornadoes. Nor the smell of butterscotch, lol.

The mountain? What mountain?

No thanks. I've experienced a wide variety of weather, and raining dirt like it does here is my least favorite thing above winter. I'd the thunderstorms and tornadoes in a heartbeat over that

[teddyearp]

Originally Posted by ElleTea

The mountain? What mountain?

No thanks. I've experienced a wide variety of weather, and raining dirt like it does here is my least favorite thing above winter. I'd the thunderstorms and tornadoes in a heartbeat over that

Sorry. For Arizonans, "the mountain" refers to the Show Low area of Arizona. Somewhat from Heber to Eagar and down past Alpine. The monsoon up there does everything you miss about thunderstorms in the Midwest except for prolific tornadoes.