Monsoon Diary

[Susan Strom]

A space for Monsoon news. Add your stories...

***

6/2/04 McDowell Mountains, Moonhiking the Sonoran Desert

The sun went down, taking with it 15 degrees almost instantly. The drop is so obvious at twilight in wild, undeveloped areas. Cities change this, but I'm a ways out from the city. During the night the arid landscape will cool 15 degrees more. Every bit counts on a 106 degree day on the heels of summer Monsoon. I'm an avid moonhiker but with Monsoon due in early July, I double my hiking even more now as summer nights will soon be filled up with chasing lightning well into September.

Mouths drop, as my hiking companions and ranger guide stare at the spectacle, a full moon rising over the jagged Superstition range to the east. Big and orange like a basketball, it appears almost cartoonish in the pale blue sky. If only to have with me a 600mm lens and a few lightning bolts thrown in. Soon.

We pass by a flock of ravens perched atop a 40-ft saguaro. They are taking full advantage of the annual bounty of red cactus fruit. It is said that a raven is smart as a Labrador. All the desert animals will feast tonight, except for snake. He is in hiding. Rattlers negotiate the desert by heat sensing anyway, and seem to prefer hunting during New Moon when not so visible to the watchful eyes of surveying owls.

The desert floor sparkles in the moonlight. Our shadows are sharp and clear. The sky is sapphire blue and the mountain edges look drawn with calligraphy. Quail are running (they're always running), making the chaparral rustle as we walk by. Coyotes take up yipping in the night but the lesser nighthawks make no sound. The nighthawks come out in numbers this time of year, another harbinger of Monsoon. The desert is also home to bobcats, mountain lions and javalina (like peccary), and even small bear will stray from the high country once in a great while.

Iron silicates make the desert sand look wet, an illusion however, as there has not been rain here for weeks. Indigenous grasses, remnants that this was once a desert grassland, are abundant. It would be nice if they would choke out the exotic ones not welcomed, the foreign ones that made fuel for the Rio Fire of 1995. Lightning struck the desert, starting a blaze there on July 7 of that year, the typical first day of Monsoon. It was the summer the mountains glowed orange with flame, but purple with lupine the following spring.

Monsoon is only about a month away now, allowing me barely enough time to make a run to the Plains before the season begins. I'm looking forward to every part of Monsoon, from the shots I'm planning to the little things, like the aroma creosote bush makes in humidity. And of course, moonhiking. But plans are soft during storm season, you know how it goes. Happy June.

-Susan Strom, Arizona, United States

[Susan Strom]

The idea was to hang out in New Mexico for as long as I could, storms were due in the afternoon in a slight-risk area. Its a matter of just days now before dewpoints creep up to 50s and above, giving the pulse-convection some sticking power. New Mexico tugs at the Monsoon a little earlier than Arizona, as the pre-season SW dry punch from the Baja is not such a factor. Fortunately, this annoying culprit loses ground as the Arizona summer creeps into July and the Mexican storm door opens, bringing lightning, wind and sometimes torrential rains. I love to see a flag with a SE wind.

Turning off I40 I pulled over in Tijeras, the first town along what New Mexicans call the Turquoise Trail, a windy, intriguing 50 mile drive along the Sandia Crest, the Land of Enchantment’s 10,678 ft sky island summit. Some kind of staghorn cholla up on the peak was blooming in magenta bouquets, setting off the sweeping views. Gray shadows moved from place to place, shifting the mountain’s color from rust to that vivid royal blue, the color of the window frames in Taos.

Although I get teased by fledgling towers a few times faithfully each year as the Monsoon kick-starts, I chase every event I can because you just never know if there might be a prolific lightning producer among the changing clouds. If there is one truth about chasing in arid lands, it is that even the pastoral-looking high-based cumulus can carry a charge.

Expectedly, rain starts hitting my windshield. The sky darkened. Suddenly, thunder crashed like God kick-starting a Harley. I remember that in the daytime, lightning looks so much less threatening than at night, although the danger is quite real. I’m at 8,000 feet, metal, on a pinon-studded slope with antennas on the roof. It would be foolish to think that a blade of grass would be sexier to a lightning bolt, or a stepped leader wanting to become one.

The storm strengthens, putting down CGs one after another like arrows. I head to a protected area to take my antennas down before going back out for photography. Daytime lightning is a longshot, but any kind of storm is fair game even if it is high noon.

The storm lasts for 45 minutes or so, then slips in tact down the backside of the summit. I pop in my new John Anderson CD which I bought in a truck stop in Kansas, crank it hard and head down the hill toward Madrid. On the way, another photo presents itself, the darkened mountain with the foreground of a passing Amtrak winding through the rugged hills. New Mexico is full of trains.

I wasn’t quite expecting the enigmatic town of Madrid, a former coal-mining town gone artist’s colony. I stop and talk to a guy dressed a bit like a prospector. He and his wife are ceramists, part of the town’s new lease on life. He seems to fit perfectly in the weathered, cliff-hugging town, which no doubt draws the weekend curious from Santa Fe. I figure that Madrid has to have a few ghosts of it’s own. Perhaps they hide out, in the storms on the Sandia Crest.

Map
http://www.turquoisetrail.org/map.htm

[Susan Strom]

6/30/04 - I thought I’d slip in another full moon hike just before Monsoon kicks in and starts taking up my time. Three miles into the desert trail, my hiking buddies and I caught a peculiar sight to the north. A glowing orange half-circle in the shape of a “C” was laying on the southern flank of the adjacent Mazatzal Wilderness, one of the ranges responsible for the sweeping views around here NE of Phoenix, Arizona.

The pre-Monsoon Willow Fire is laying down for the night, dotting the mountains like a curvy string of Chinese lanterns. I had forgotten how strange a desert fire looks on the steep slopes, yet natural in its own way, opening the door to fresh new plant life for the future seasons. The last desert fire I saw was 9 years ago, a product of one single CG.

I have been trying to a get a photo angle on this lightning-caused blaze for the last few nights. Orographic features have helped heat-powered thunderstorms develop over the mountains. Many daytime CGs have resulted, touching off mountain fires. Saturday night I shot the fire from the Mogollon Rim (an hour’s drive to alpine terrain). Tonight I drove a distance to try and frame up a shot from the desert side, and although the moonlight is generous and visibility is good, the fire is laying down in the light midnight breezes.

The Willow Fire is burning in the remote Mazatzal Wilderness in the Tonto National Forest. The Mazatzals are a fortress of sorts, a topo map of vertical ridges, rocky outcroppings and V-shaped canyons. Getting close enough to pull in a decent flame shot is proving difficult. The scale of Wiley Coyoteland is always bigger than it looks, and access roads are few.

The fire area encompasses a variety of elevations up to nearly 8,000 feet, with different terrains from desert to alpine. Last I checked local media tonight the fire was reported at 32,000 acres and 3% containment. Because of the extreme terrain, fortunately the Mazatzals themselves are very sparsely populated.

Monsoon is always welcome in conditions like these. The summer monsoon will bring the thunderstorms with a lot more precip punch than the dry lightning-producers (fire-starters) that build up on the mountains before the annual seasonal wind shift.

[Susan Strom]

7/5/04 - Red Clay Moon

The Moon looked like a shard of red Hohokam pottery. Smoke from the Willow Fire in the Mazatzals was laying in the atmosphere, shrouding the waning gibbous Moon and weirdly revealing all the atmosphere’s inversion layers.

Around 1am, I drove to the only point I knew where I could see at least the southern edge of the fireline in the Tonto National Forest, just past the Bartlett Lake turnoff northeast of Carefree. From the Fountain Hills side, the flames are just out of view due to mountains and ravines, but the glow that makes the mesas look like distant volcanoes is obvious each night.

Past the McDowell Range and beyond Carefree, as I climb I notice the vegetation changes, thicker chaparral, ironwoods, and soaptree yucca and what looks like Spanish bayonet in bloom but it’s hard to tell in the smoky moon’s halflight. I can also see the entire Phoenix Valley of the Sun, a million lights far away. I get a fix on my elevation. A coyote crosses the road. "Got a mouse for me?", eyes glowing.

The desert fire still looks like a row of Christmas luminarias from my view, laying down in the wee hours of a 75 degree beautiful windless night. It sure looks like Vesuvius in the daytime though. This blaze has grown to a 80,000 acre phenomenon, with 900 firefighters now on the line, and I was only seeing a small shoulder of it as it is burning in extremely rugged terrain just north of where I was standing. As yet, I peek down into the darkness from where I parked, into a cavernous ravine, wondering just how these firefighters work their magic in such a tweaked landscape. Tuesday morning, the Beeline 87 highway I use every day will be closed just north of my town.

Fire is of course part of the natural ways, symbiotic and essential to forest life, but I can’t help but think… all this drama from one CG. What was it like in the West before people were here doing battle with blazes? Nature started them, let them work, then put them out with rains. Nutrients returned to the soil, creating new green growth so the wild animals could graze and feed their young in the springtime. The whole cycle.

Thunderstorms are due again this weekend over orographic features. Humidity will help and if any rain comes that will be a blessing. Everyone is just waiting for Monsoon. I hope the Beeline is open before Monsoon, it’s my direct access to the Rim. Otherwise I'll chase in the Superstitions and who knows where else.

Here is a map of the fireline:

http://www.fireteam-sw.com/whitney/willow/...n_1_MMDDYY.html (http://www.fireteam-sw.com/whitney/willow/maps/fire_progression_1_MMDDYY.html)

And the fire Web site:

http://www.fireteam-sw.com/whitney/willow/

[Joe Zemek]

...instead of a non-soon. Last year was my first full summer back in Phoenix in 10 years, and at least in the heart of the city it was a pathetic showing. Only three storms came through, and only one of those was a real rocker. I hate the Heat Island... grrr... anyway, this year I'll have opportunity to chase down I-10.

Were you around in '84, when it was gloomy and drizzly, if not thundery, from mid-June on? Could sure use that now around Payson...

[Susan Strom]

heart of the city

Oh yeah, those chasing PHX Metro may wait a long time indeed. PHX is a huge city with large heat island. I never chase there. Besides, I get kicked out of the mountains by police <sigh> Where is the room for artistic liberty? LOL

Stick to the outlying areas for sure, way better hunting ground. If you don't want to wander far from the Valley of the Sun, try Queen Creek, the San Tans, Peralta, AJ, New River, Fountain Hills to the northeast, Wickenburg out to the west, Florence to the southeast and climb a bit to areas like Superior or Four Peaks of the Mazatzals. You'll have good luck there, much more interesting terrain. It is way different out here.

Fly down the I10 in the evenings and hit the Central Deserts between Casa Grande and Marana or the 8 corridor and Gila Bend. No heat island whatsover, no one lives there LOL. Towns in the Central Deserts (the outback LOL) are spread far apart and can be a little rough though, a ranger recently told me that the Sheriff's car in Eloy is full of bullet holes. That, I believe. Keep your gas tank full and bring lots of water out there and watch for flooded roadways. Advantage there though that there is a 360 degree view of everything around and good truck stops at the I10/8 junction. I just stay out of the towns away from buildings, chasing more in the wilder areas toward Picacho and the Sawtooth range. Still though, the further south you go the more you have to watch for illegal border activity as well, such as border running and drugs. That's a whole other subject.

Depending on where you live, I recommend hitting the Verde Valley (storm alley) up I17 toward Prescott past Black Canyon City. As you climb, you won't have any trouble finding lightning there! See you there! LOL The terrain is extremely interesting and borderland issues are rare/too far north. That area gets very large hail at times too, and those storms can go warned on for rotation. Or try New River and north Cave Creek, near the Spur Cross recreation area. Watch for washouts there though with debris sometimes in the roadways.

Monsoon chasing is about driving in the mesoscale, at least it is for me, and even further distances, moving from place to place very quickly. I never stay in one place, but that's only my style. I'll work a storm until it's dying breath but generally don't chase in metro areas.

Try the Mazatzals too. Rugged but...very sweet, a favorite for me. And SE AZ has much to offer if you're up to driving a couple hours south. I could write for days about chasing near Willcox/Benson, Tombstone and the Chiricahua. I am so looking forward to this year. Good luck!

[Greg Campbell]

When I think of storm chasing, I imagine a slightly manic weather enthusiast rising at 4 AM to pore over dozens of atmospheric charts and forcasts. Our hero applies 'years of experience' to the flood of data, carefuly judges the most favorable location, then drives 12 hours to arrive in the nick of time...

My first formal lightning chase was somewhat more modest, a 50 mile round trip...:roll:

For the past week, Tucson has been drowned in a steady flow of hot, dry air flowing from the west. Although the shift to southern, monsoonal flow is 'due,' the professional tea leaf readers say we'll need to endure at least another 7~10 days of blazing heat before any chance of serious rain arrives.... ugh.

Anyhoo...
Last weekend (June 26), a tentative monsoon-ish flow brought the area enough moisture to allow thick cumulus to develop over the Rincon range, just East of town. After a spending the afternoon slowly building strength, the clouds had grown and were giving it their all, (a rather modest effort) popping occasional CG lightning onto the Tanque Verde Ridge area.

With a few hours to go before sunset, I decided to drive up to the Catalina Mountains in search of a better view, as well as the opportunity to breathe sub 100 degree air. My plan was to catch the warm evening light, filtering over the cloud covered Catalinas, as it illuminated the action in the Rincon area.

Halfway up the mountain, as the road climbs out of Bear Canyon, the southern view improves markedly. 'My' storm was still hovering over T.V. ridge, and the modest lightning activity had actually increased slightly. So far, so good. I again lost sight of the storm as the road turned North and climed higher. I decided to take Mt. Biggelow road and follow it as it wrapped around to the Southern side of the ridgeline. Without a proper map, I felt somewhat like a rat in a maze. After an 'exploratory' tour of the campground loop, I arrived at the radio tower complex.

The sun was low in the sky, and the light was starting to warm nicely. Puffy white clouds transitioned to subtle magenta and pink hues, while the sky darkened to a rich, hazy, purple. Everything was going swimmingly except for one minor detail - Mount Biggelow has a lot of trees, and a clean view to the SE was proving hard to find. I finally took off down the Butterfly trail, and, after a ~1/4 mile tromp, acquired an unobstructed view of my quarry. The light was sublime; distant clouds and mountains illuminated with crepuscular alpenglow streaming from behind me. Ah-Ha!!

After a few minutes, I slowly became aware of another, more serious, problem. :idea1: "Uhh...where's the lightning?" :scratch:
With the loss of solar heating (?) the brave little clouds had lost what little zap they once possesed...

The scene was still quite nice and I shot half a roll of chrome before closing darkness chased me back up the trail. Back at the antennae farm, I snuck up the fire watchtower and took a few more shots of the area before returning to the car. I took the slow route home, stopping at several locations for short midnight hikes, and didn't get back to the still-warm valley until 1am.

-Greg (Still waiting for the BIG storms.)

[Joe Zemek]

Oh, don't worry about me chasing in metro Phoenix, Susan. Although I'm usually tempted to head up 36th into the [Squaw Peak? Piestewa?] Mountain Preserve just to get panoraltitude, the city "chase" is not on my strategery list. My monsoon experiences were simply limited to enjoyment from the backyard as I'd be getting home from work too consistently late to chase, hence my disappointment at the number of inner-city storms. Plenty of time watching the radar last year clued me into some of the spots you mention; anything along SE I-10, Gila Bend/I-8, & Wickenburg seemed to get a ton of local action that does not involve mountain chasing.

You say Verde Valley storms can spin? Have you ever bagged a sculpted LP bellbottom here in AZ? :shock:

Seems to me that the recent AZ tornado reports I remember (all 3 of 'em) were on the plateau north of I-40. Any experience there?

Watching the precip creep up the Mexi-coast...

[Susan Strom]

7/7/04 Marker Day

Willow Fire-wise, it looked like a bomb went off today.
100K, quarter contained.
Updates:
http://www.fireteam-sw.com/whitney/willow/

Today is July 7, the symbolic marker day for start of Monsoon. For the fire's sake as well, I'm glad July 7 is here, and have felt a change in the air for the last two days. The sky is cluttery with altocu and cirrus mare's tails, the humidity is up, the evening sky turns that oxidized copper teal color and it's hotter than a pistol. Flags today were pointing from a wind out of the SE.

My dad can tell when one of those howling winter gales is about to pound the Pacific coast in California. The sky will be clear but you know it's out there...because the waves are aggitated, crashing high on the headlands, as the blue sky is deceptively fair overhead. It's pastoral... temporarily. I have the same sense today. The Monsoon feels "out there".

[Susan Strom]

Hey Joe,

One of the Avid editors for a local TV station told me about that spot just last year. I don't urban chase either but that overlook is pretty nice. Cops will kick ya out though when it's late. To tell you the truth though I have plenty of spots in the McDowells, Carefree, Troon, Peralta, Four Peaks, I'd rather use if the fur is flying locally LOL They're wilder, and I have a couple secret spots too (can't tell though...until I get my trophy shot there LOL, but I will say this, one has a view of Weaver's Needle). Then...there is the rest of Arizona LOL

The Verdes can get warned on once in awhile, have produced large hail also. That mini-prairie up there has the unobstructed views.

Yes, there was a tube near Winslow/Holbrook last year. And one in Needles a couple years ago. A few years back I chased a low-based that spawned 3 funnels as it moved from I10 to Queen Creek. The base was mushing the lightning down so it was horizontal. I have pictures of that. It's lightning I'm after, no matter which direction it goes...

Hey good luck this year... happy hunting!

[Robert Hoff]

Susan,
Not to distract from the topic, what are the dangers of chasing near the border? I've been to Nogales MX, but it was during the day and I was just getting ripped off on stupid trinkets to bring home to the fam, so the risk was rather low. For those that don't live near a border (I'm from suburban Chicago), you have no idea how bizarre it is to have an interstate highway blocked off for a border patrol checkpoint some miles north of the border - they're just looking for stowaways, not anything YOU might be doing!

Bullet holes in a sheriff's car up here would draw a SWAT team in short order. I can't imagine how the local law down there would be OK with that.

Rob

[Mike Hardiman]

My impression after coming here is that you'll hear plenty of bad stories and rumors, but I'd be willing to think the danger is lower than most may think. Drug runners and coyotes don't want to see you and will likely avoid cars, etc, in the middle of the desert. Granted, there is an increased risk.

When I first came to NM, everyone told me to never drive to Columbus, NM via route 9 at night... It runs anywhere from a couple miles to a few hundred yards from the border. I've done it dozens of times since, and have never seen anything sketchy.

The biggest problem will likely be dealing with Border Patrol wondering what you're up to. I have no problem with this as long as they're friendly and don't ask me to "move along." If that ever happens, then we're going to have some problems...

Crawling around the desert roads out in South-Central NM I've come upon areas where there's tons of spent shells and busted beer bottles in the middle of nowhere. I'd be more worried about drunken Rednecks than illegal Mexicans.

Perhaps things are different out to Tuscon and near Nogales? We're supposedly along the most active drug/immigrant trading route here in El Paso. I've never been to Nogales, but have stopped in Agua Prieta and it seemed to be an impressively clean border town... not sure how much that reflects organized crime in the region.

[Susan Strom]

Robert wrote:
Bullet holes

I was informed of it from a desert guide I have come to know and trust. However, when and how it took place I do not know. However, chasing in the Central Deserts doesn't bother me, mainly because I am careful and can see in all directions, and have rules I follow to stay safe. I will also split asap if I don't like what I see, and stay clear of the towns themselves.

On a related note, I'm glad you both brought up the border issue. Please know that Monsoon success does NOT in any way require trekking through Arizona borderlands. This is a huge state, with a wide range of choices for Monsoon vantage points at so many points north. However, in mid June I started writing a post about this very subject and will be posting it here in the next few days. I would have already but I was driving across country.

Valid points, thanks to both!

[Susan Strom]

7/8/04 Numero Dos

Just rolled in from chasing iso-T's east of Tucson, second Monsoon chase this year (Sandia was the first). The season is just getting started! A few cells were only moderately charged but warranted a shoot. I did the I10 run but what a pleasure in the cool and breezy desert night, filled with the heady smell of chaparral when it rains. GV as the storms were, they were actually producing a some colored lightning, particularly reds. I only see that once in a while. The subtropical critters were out, even froggies (believe it or not). The desert buzzed with activity.

Roadside oddity #14: "Mr. T's Travel Plaza" on I10 (pity the fool who doesn't stop). Restaurant name at the same plaza "Omar the Highway Chef."

[Jim Southard]

The Verdes can get warned on once in awhile, have produced large hail also. That mini-prairie up there has the unobstructed views.


Hi Susan,

Thanks for the monsoon diary. I love hearing what the weather is doing in the deserts. I've always enjoyed the deserts, and it's been there that I got my start in storm chasing.

On my first "chase vacation" (I say that in quotes because it was just a 3-day trip to Arizona in July, either 1998 or 1999, can't remember exactly which), we were hanging near Camp Verde watching storms basically on all sides of us, when my weather radio went off with a tornado warning! I had been dozing somewhat in the warm and slightly muggy air, but when that happened I was awake! :shock:

My friends and I held our position warily, and nothing happened to us. I can't remember if there was a tornado or not... guess I'll need to check StormData!

Jim

[Susan Strom]

Right on...

If 1999 was the year you visited for Monsoon, a perfect choice. El Nino helped to provide 92 days of pattern. It was very sweet, I thought it would never end!

[Susan Strom]

7/10/04 Willow on the Wane

At last check this morning the lightning-caused Willow Fire was 65% contained and some of the firefighters got some needed rest. I have to go up the road soon and see the newly blackened canyons. Humidity and dewpoints are up today, as the first surges of pre-Monsoon moisture make it into the State. It was a massive blaze but Nature puts them out this time of year. Nutrients have now returned to the soil, I wonder what the wildflowers will look like next year.

[Mike Hardiman]

Friday 7/9/2004 - Near Nogales, AZ

Had my first away-from-home adventure of the year Friday. I left ELP around noontime Friday, stopped briefly in Benson before heading South towards Sonoita and Patagonia, where things seemed to be boiling up in the mountains by afternoon. Unfortunately, the convection stayed fairly weak, and by early evening I found myself in Nogales. The best storms were further SE over the mountains in NE Sonora, and though I was tempted, I decided against going down that way without further planning. Ideal trips south of the border will involve exploring the area during daylight hours, and knowing a good direct route back to a major highway as Mexican backgrounds can be dangerous at night with livestock, and vehicles with no headlights. I decided to save the $24 for a day's worth of auto insurance for later in the season. Even so, I photographed some dying cells to the SE and SW on some isolated ranch roads between Nogales and Kino Springs. Predictably, I ran into Border Patrol agents who simply cautioned me about the area's "traffic" but were surprisingly friendly. They said it was best to keep some sort of running lights in the vehicle on when stopped to keep away any trouble... 'if they see lights, they'll think you're us and stay away.'

The weakening storms, which were a good distance SE, looked impressive at sunset, but were "weakly charged" and I soon lost interest after dark. I headed back towards Tucson and spent the night parked at a trailhead parking lot in Saguaro West and wasn't interrupted at all during the night.


Saturday 7/10/2004 - Green Valley-Tucson-San Manuel, AZ
The day dawned with a rather boring sunrise in Saguaro NP... no clouds, and a desert winter-like harsh early morning light. Pretty disappointing. Decided to stay in the area today and hope for some upslope activity on the mountains east and south of town, along the I-19 corridor. Killed the early part of the day by exploring downtown Tucson, taking a few photos, and driving up to Sentinel Peak. Cu was forming in the higher elevations all around, and looked more promising than the previous day. It appeared like the best storms of the day were forming on the Santa Ritas, so I headed south towards Green Valley to get a closer look. These storms were moderately charged, but there was still too much light, and not enough lightning for daytime photos, though I tried (could only get exposures down to 1 sec with ND filters). There were plenty of impressive rainshafts in all quads, and took a few shots despite poor foreground (a new Yuppie Subdivision being built off White House Canyon Road.) Storm were firing up all around, probably along the Tumacacoris and the San Cayetanos, and were slowly moving north, so I headed back towards Tucson via Business-19, and soon intersected what had become a fairly impressive outflow boundary. By the time I got to Tucson, things had become overcast, with the storms to the south bringing in cool outflow air. I still had a few hours before any good light, so I was faced with a decision. Head NW and set up somewhere in the Silver Bell Mountains looking East towards Tucson and hope something fires up over there by dusk, or head NE out of town on a relatively obscure road through Tanque Verde Canyon and hope to find some storms by dusk near San Manuel north of Tucson.

I picked the latter, which may have been a mistake in terms of lightning photography, as there did seem to be some storms north of me the whole time driving up this road that I simply couldn't get a good vantage point on that might have been visible from the Silver Bell Mountains... but in the end, I think it was the best decision overall due to the unexpected results. This road was much slower than I expected, so sunset occurred when I was just north of "Redington" (just a placename on the map). However, the sunset light was filtered through dying convection to my North and West and cast the most unbelievably beautiful light on the surrounding mountains and hillsides, turning desert rocks into strange earth-toned pastels, making for some powerful silhouettes against the thousands of Saguaro cacti all over this area. A few strikes of lightning to the north, and the rumbles of thunder punctuating an otherwise dead silent landscape just added to the surreal nature of the whole affair. The lightning to the north was not frequent enough to warrant ditching my sunset photos. Still, the photographs I took this day made the whole trip worth it, whether I saw any lightning or not.

Eventually, I made it back to Tucson, showered, and spent the night at the Triple T truckstop. Showers $8... rating a C+. Not the cleanest facility in the world, and more expensive than the average truckstop shower... still it is a independently-owned facility, and the only game in town unless you want to travel to Benson or Eloy. Also, they are on truckstop.net.


Sunday 7/11/2004 - Gila Wilderness, NM

Felt like there was a good chance of storms in SE AZ again on Sunday, but figured a change of Venue might not be a bad idea. Original thought was to head back to ELP then perhaps catch storms firing up on the Sacramento Mtns of NM, but past experience tells me that these storms tend to pop up the earliest, and stabilize the air surrounding the region by evening. Last week's fun (two weeks ago??) featured storms firing in the mountains first, with colliding outflows over the lowlands producing storms towards dusk. So, I decided to take a slow road home through the Gila Wilderness, perhaps get some daytime shots of storms in the mountains, then hopefully catch an evening show in the Valley.

Unfortunately, I took a really slow road. Headed north on 191 in AZ, and followed this road to Three Way, AZ where I picked up AZ-78 which followed some incredible terrain and overlooks into Mule Creek, NM. Headed north on US-180 from there to Glenwood, topped off on fuel, then headed East on NM 159 through some more incredible terrain with off-road paths leading to beautiful overlooks, into the awesome little "ghost town" of Mogollon. Beyond Mogollon, the road follows a steep, wooded canyon which other than realizing the huge flash flood potential the area has, was otherwise boring. I picked up FR142 (called Loco Mtn road in DeLormes) through more and more thickly wooded terrain, past Snow Lake, all the way to NM59, which I followed all the way to Winston, NM. By now it was dark. I'll never drive that road past Mogollon again... just boring dense forests. Might as well have been in northern Maine. There were some very distant storms off to the NE that I could see some flashes of lightning from, but there were no favorable horizons, and the lightning was relatively sparse. So I headed towards Truth or Consequences, NM, and then home for the night.

I still need to catch up on what actually happened around here the past few days by looking at radar archives, etc. Looks like Sunday would have been better spent in Tucson, and there was some activity here on Saturday as well.

Today looks like we have our friendly easterly wave moving into central Chihuahua, with a thin region of drier air and subsidence out ahead of it. Things are already popping in SE AZ and in the Gila Wilderness, but interestingly, nothing much in the Sacramentos. Looking at the 18z soundings from the region (NAME IOP #2 in effect), you can clearly see the drier air aloft in EPZ and ABQ, but things are nice and moist points SW and also east. Note the nicely saturated sounding in MAF. Water Vapor shows mid/upper level moisture beginning to come back into SE New Mexico, so perhaps the thin region of drier/subsident air out ahead of this wave will act to just delay convection in the Sacs to a more favorable time for photography, with deeper moisture coming back in my late afternoon/early evening? I might head east on US-70 later on, perhaps finding some luck either near White Sands or on some of my favorite spots west of High Rolls on the US82...

(Admins, this whole thread might belong in Storm Reports, but I don't think there'll be a heck of a lot of forecast posts or reports posts for each individual day, so perhaps it is good to have a generic "Monsoon" / lightning photo thread?)

Happy monsoon everyone!

-Mike

[Mike Hardiman]

Upon further review...

It looks like Saturday was most active in the ELP area. Storms fired up early in the terrain out in Hudspeth County, with some weak early storms in the Sacs and San Adreas Mtns. Hudspeth storms sent a nice outflow westward, which collided with outflows spreading from storms in Chihuahua and in Luna County, NM, and led to some pretty potent storms from just north of Deming southward to the Mexican border. These might have had some photo opportunities, depending on how much lightning they were dropping.

Seems like most of the storms this weekend, including yesterday in AZ have been relatively weak and short-lived, and from what I saw, did not produce a heck of a lot of lightning.

Two weeks ago, the early storms were the same way, weak, short-lived, and not "charged." That changed on the last 3-days of weather before drier air came in from the west...

Is this typical of early monsoon storms?

[Mike Hardiman]

What a difference a day makes!

Wow! Things really lighting up now with a LOT of lightning showing up along the Mogollon Rim from North of Phoenix circling back to the mountains north of Tucson... also lots of strikes in a line, probably along some terrain from near Lukeville, AZ and Sonoita, SO arcing SSE'ward into SO. Lighter activity along the Sierra Madre South of the NM Bootheel, and finally things beginning to pop in the Sacs, but little in the way of lightning strikes. I'll probably head out that way in a bit and take a gamble. Good luck to Susan and any other AZ photographers... and this is still before any true influence from the Easterly Wave in Chihuahua. Hopefully things will stay lit through evening for you guys!

[Susan Strom]

Mike wrote:
so perhaps it is good to have a generic "Monsoon" / lightning photo thread?)

It is my hope that Monsoon Diary does stay intact as one thread...I wouldn't want to see it broken up. Thanks...

Mike, it sounds like you're covering a lot of ground and having some luck too...Thursday night was also decent in Tucson and I caught some lightning there in the deserts past the city limits. SE AZ is a good spot for the lion's share when the Monsoon is just getting started. As it gets later into July the towers have some sticking power but more importantly the alpine storms create the needed outflow boundaries so the deserts can get in on the party at night. Happy hunting & I'll probably pass you on the road! LOL

[Joe Zemek]

Won't be chasing this week (hopefully next), but it was soooo nice to drive home at 6:30 on Washington St. as the dust front blew thru. Best of luck to all AZ chasers in the next couple days/months (fingers crossed there).

[Mike Hardiman]

Well, while things looked impressive earlier this evening, things died down rather rapidly in SE AZ towards nightfall again.

Stuff never got going over the Sacs either, but I did manage to shoot a few frames of some storms from the desert out near Santa Teresa, NM, looking north at lightning about 100 miles away near Truth or Consequences. Lightning from this far away has been tricky for me to capture in the past as I've always tended to underexpose things... this time I upped the ante and went with some very long (5-10 minute) exposures at f/5.6 using both ISO 100 and 400 film... we'll see what turns out!

[Susan Strom]

Things were decent in PHX - after I hit the sand wall on I10 around 6:30pm, the haboob passed and behind it was lightning over South Mountain. The pattern is active for the week.

For those who might be curious, on this Skywarn page there is a picture of haboob, typical in Arizona. Haboob is a Sudanese name for violent wind/sand storm like the one that came through Phoenix lastnight. They also occur in the Sahara.

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/Phoenix/general/skywarn/

[David Wolfson]

Alas, the progs still look pretty weak for the Monsoon for most of AZ except maybe the extreme south. In fact it's possible we may not yet technically have the Monsoon yet. I think we have to hold average dp 55 today and tomorrow for the official start. Have my fingers x'd.

[Susan Strom]

Today's taken care of - PHX hit 56. The Rim and the Cats are starting to fire. There was nothing going on all day, and then...but isn't that so typical - no insolation-killing overcast in the morning so eve is fair game. I'm just glad Monsoon caters to the night chaser...

[Dan Robinson]

Was out chasing WV last night with WxWorx running, and decided to zoom in on Arizona on the way home. Small storms with low radar reflectivities were producing insane CG across southern AZ. It's amazing how those tiny cells can produce so much lightning, no wonder they are so photogenic.

[Susan Strom]

That's a good point, Dan. Reflectivity is not necessarily the ultimate locator out here for CG chasing. High-based dry thunderstorms with virga or modest rain cores, looking paltry on radar, can be great for lightning photography (if you're watching). Using a lightning tracker helps as well as watching and checking visual on sky activity from a perch (I use a mountain overlook in the McDowells - it looks over the entire Valley and into the Central Deserts. No trees...can see for many miles.) That's a good point, not to go by radar alone for locating storms currently active with lightning activity. Thanks for bringing that up.

[Susan Strom]

:toothy2: 7/13/04 All I can say is awesome!!!
Tonight was what monsoon chasing is all about. However, it's 2am and I just got back from 8 hours in the desert.

More later... :sleepy2:

[Cstok]

To my monsoon chasing brothers and sisters! I have chased in the plains for a few years, and feel somewhat comfortable in understanding the geography as it effects the weather (caprock etc...), but I am uncertain as to the geography and its impact on the monsoon for the Southern Arizona area.

The reason I am asking is because I will be there for a short business trip August 23rd - 25th, and will try to sneak out by 4 or 5pm to chase storms... provided we have some monsoonal flow. What areas / locations are good foucusing mechanisms for storms?

[David Wolfson]

The Monsoon is a general term for a number of factors (some quite subtle) that combine in varying degrees during the summer season to produce convection. The various factors interact with the geography in different ways, though the mountains in general tend to initiate and focus the convection as you'd expect.

In my (non-professional) observation there are two basic categories: diurnal insolation-driven and disturbance-driven.

In the first, the convection responds mainly to sun heating. It will initiate over the "sky-islands" of Southern Arizona (Catalinas, Santa Ritas, Pinalenos, Huachucas, Chiricahuas, etc.) and on the Mogillon Rim ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mogollon_Rim) around noon or a little after. It will then move off the mountains with the mid-level flow and cycle as multi-cell air-mass storms. As sunset approaches the storms tend to clarify and settle enabling those beautiful photo opportunities. Nighttime usually stables out surprisingly fast.

In the second, the multi-cells tend to coalesce into lines and into larger clusters with mesoscale and occasional synoptic scale disturbances. Last night in the Phoenix area was such a case, and you can still see the disturbance in the WV loop approaching Las Vegas this morning. Other than the occasional easterly waves the experts can see coming for a long time, these disturbances seem usually to be generated by the subtle upper thermodynamics of the "Four Corners High" mechanism that characterizes the monsoon flow. The disturbances seem to surprise everybody -- including the NWS. Watch for persistent linear storm formations perpendicular to and traveling with the flow for early warning. These tend to move smartly along, can occur at all times of the day (though nocturnal seems preferred), and are more classically chaseable.

Well, that's the general overview. Where are you traveling to, Cstok? Susan Strom I'm sure can give you some more particular tips on locations, etc.

[Cstok]

I will be in Phoenix during that time. I will have a rental car, and will be concluding business anytime around 3 or 4pm each evening, so I should be able to get to where the action is before dark.

[Susan Strom]

Lastnight took me to the Ak-Chin Indian Community near Maricopa in the northern Central Deserts. Storms were just fantastic, persisting for hours, putting down CGs all over the area. I shot lightning hitting on the mountain range between Maricopa and Gila Bend and in the open lands where clouds were low and rains were hard in Bapchule.

A chase buddy called while shooting CGs over PHX from a mountain pass and another called later from the West Side going for a storm near Buckeye. I think we formed a large triangle. Severe warnings went up again around 10:15pm, I hit the dust wall on those in the SE Valley along with torrential rain and constant lightning zipping overhead as I made my way north to higher terrain.

I hit extremely heavy flooding on Shea Blvd (Lake Shea!). Shot for awhile up on the McDowell range in north Scottsdale looking at CGs over the spread of the city lights. Activity picked up as yet to the east so for a hawk's eye view, I went to a mountain overlook and this time faced an odd mix of emotions...happiness, excitement, and....primal fear! It's hard to explain the air-ripping sound of CGs a street's width away...but they were hitting so close, zigzagging all over the sky and touching in the immediate vicinity (thwack!! :shock: ). There was nowhere to go...staying in vehicle...what a wild show.

Got home around 2am with fresh rolls of pictures still waiting to be seen...what an awesome night in the Desert Southwest...

[Graham Butler]

Damn Susan sounds like you had a hell of a night!! Please post some pics when you get them developed and scanned!! I am planning on heading to the Glenwood area of NM for a geology/rock collecting trip in the 2nd/3rd week of Aug. I will likely only be able to spend 4-5 days out there but when the sun goes down I plan on heading into Az to get the lightning. I just hope that there isnt a repeat of last year with the storms firing early in the afternoon and going poof when the sun goes down :x Although both my friend and I managed to get a couple decent sunset lightning shots.

Graham Butler
wx5svr
graham.butler@ttu.edu

[Mike Hardiman]

Well, being at work I didn't have nearly the luck Susan did, but a strong storm developed in western Hudspeth County, TX right before sunset yesterday (Tuesday 7/13), and died soon after. However, it would have been a perfect LTG photo op as the light was just perfect.

We did snap some shots with the office cam, but of course couldn't capture the brilliant pink CG and CA's popping out of this thing.

Here's the direct links so you don't have to deal with the stupid scrollbars:
http://www.vtphoto.com/nws/cool%20images/2...dspeth_EPZ2.jpg (http://www.vtphoto.com/nws/cool%20images/20040713_Hudspeth_EPZ2.jpg)

http://www.vtphoto.com/nws/cool%20images/2...udspeth_EPZ.JPG (http://www.vtphoto.com/nws/cool%20images/20040713_Hudspeth_EPZ.JPG)

-Mike

[Susan Strom]

Those are nice storms, Mike... I like the "distinctly desert" yucca too, they always look nice in the shots. Good luck everybody with your shots! (PS Graham - rock shops are a weakness of mine. The other day I passed some good looking ones in Holbrook, near Winslow just fyi). Cstok - Phoenix should provide, that time of year. Lots of different areas, huge Valley with many terrain choices. Better on the East side, generally, but Monsoon plays it's own game on the West side too. My fave spots in PHX: Carefree, Cave Creek, Fountain Hills, Apache Junction, Gold Canyon/Peralta, Florence, Queen Creek, New River, McDowell Mountain Range, Saguaro Lake, Four Peaks, Lake Pleasant. All those areas have provided a show for me at one time or another, and commonly get more generous chances.

[Susan Strom]

:hello1:
News flash (lightning smiley)
Monsoon is official in Arizona (and it came in with a bang). Wednesday marked the third day of the needed consecutive 55 degree dewpoints or higher. (Storms up until this point have been considered "pre-monsoon").

Happy hunting, Zonies!

[Tony Laubach]

Amazingly enough, we're starting to see signs of it here in the Denver area, too! 8) Time to bust out some lightning!

[David Wolfson]

Time to post again that the MRF progs still look pretty weak for the monsoon. The last time I did that (Tuesday) all heck broke loose that night :wink:

[Susan Strom]

Please do LOL <tribal raindance voodoo smiley>

[Susan Strom]

Hello fellow Zonies and Monsoon visitors...

:arrow: Please take a moment to read the article I just added including important information on the borderlands. It is a subject post in itself: Special to ST: Arizona Chasing and Borderland Issues

Best, Susan

[Joe Zemek]

Looks like a big line has just coalesced SE of Tucson with a likely N/NW motion and decent speed. Should push thru the city and up I-10... but remains to be seen if it maintains the juice to get to PHX and defeat the heat dome. Fingers crossed...

[Mike Hardiman]

Some nice outflow collisions south of the border right before sunset managed to get a few small, moderately-charged storms to fire up just south of El Paso. Excellent lighting conditions, and optimally-located storms for shooting lightning behind the El Paso skyline from about 8:15-10:00pm.

http://www.vtphoto.com/nws/tmp/ltg20040720.jpg

It is nice to have the moisture back here! Looks like Arizona has had declining activity today, with the exception of a nicely charged cluster between Sells and Eloy.

[Susan Strom]

Hi Monsoon-chasers...

If you happen to live in Phoenix Valley of the Sun, tune in tomorrow to a special (weather-themed!) version of the weekday show "Your Life A-Z" on NewsChannel 3 at 9:00am. Toward the beginning of the hour, host Heidi Foglesong and Chief Meteorologist Royal Norman and myself will be discussing lightning photography in the beautiful Arizona desert (ps - Royal's going to try it himself in Greer!!)

I'll also be sharing about the annual lightning photography show just starting at Boyce Thompson Arboretum, a cooperative park managed by Arizona State Parks, University of Arizona and a private nonprofit corporation. The 300 acre, lush Arboretum is a wonderful way to hike and spend the day (mornings recommended this time of year as the terrain is Upper Sonoran). It is located on Hwy 60 east of the Valley in Superior, AZ. To coincide with the Monsoon, myself and another photographer have covered the Visitors Center Gallery in lightning!! More about the show soon. Check out the link here as well at: http://ag.arizona.edu/BTA/featuredartist.html

The storm door is supposed to open again for this weekend. Happy hunting!

[Susan Strom]

iCaliente! Today's temp in PHX reached a withering 111 degrees F. Cars work harder and the occasional dropped coin can be found melted into the asphalt. These breaks in the Monsoon are indeed brutal. Fortunately, the storms are predicted to be back in full swing by this weekend. There is nothing better than a steep temperature drop courtesy of Monsoon rain.

[Susan Strom]

Hey Phoenicians...
I'm liking what I see for the pattern this weekend, I better make a film run.

hey if you're up early, 12News Saturday 9:55am will show some stills of my 7/13 stuff from that big Tuesday one that came through and other recent desert CGs. (hey that was some storm wasn't it!). There might be a blip on the Boyce show too (if not, see link couple posts back..)

I'd like to see a good flash flood, maybe one of those remote arroyos, get some landscape rearranged. Those things are always amazing (as long as I'm not in it :-) )

[Mike Peregrine]

Susan - anxious to see some of your work from this year ... one of these years I'm going to come out to AZ for some monsoon chasing myself ... you get some of the coolest sky/landscape combinations on the planet this time of year ...

[Susan Strom]

Definitely Mike, come out and chase the Monsoon sometime...

[Joe Zemek]

hey if you're up early, 12News Saturday 9:55am will show some stills of my 7/13 stuff from that big Tuesday one that came through and other recent desert CGs.

Susan, I missed your TV appearance twice? D'oh!

Good luck tonight. Given anvils blowing back behind the storms, keeping the inflow juiced, looks like some long lived storms in the south, and some good opportunity to see some sunlit tower tops long after sunset, hopefully with lightning beneath 'em. <sigh> Someday I'll have time to chase... fingers crossed for August :?

[Susan Strom]

Joe wrote:
Susan, I missed your TV appearance twice? D'oh!

No maj... thanks for thinkin' of me 8) Honestly the live spot ran at 7:20am... before the birds and snakes get up (yawn). It was funny though, it turned out that the anchor and I grew up in the same town and even skated at the same roller disco in California when we were kids LOL so we ended up talking about that too at the end of the stormchasing segment LOL. I was grabbin' for the Starbucks at that hour (5am to make it downtown in time). The 9:55 am spot on 12 ran a little later but it wasn't as long as the early news. The best one by far though ran last Thursday at 9:15 on Your Life A-Z (the Heidi Foglesong show) on 3. They gave me a full 10 minutes with Heidi F. & Royal Norman (chief met). It was so relaxing because we cut it the day before, on a "having coffee" set. Heidi and Royal are funny together. If you caught it they did a really cute chroma-key segment, explaining how broadcast mets do the wx on the green screen. Comedians, it was pretty good! Royal's going to try and shoot some lightning here this summer. He'll probably get some great shots.

After running up to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, I chased lastnight in the towns of Globe/Miami. They get the orographic lift there in the Superstitions. What a landscape, the Superstitions. Serious geologic activity, spires, canyons, vertical uplift. Dang. Love it. So I tried for CGs in some of the severe where I could see the Weaver's Needle, after spending some time shooting towers over some Indian ruins in the afternoon.

Hey we're on the heels of August!

[Susan Strom]

Lightning was plentiful lastnight in the north Valley, courtesy of an MCS that originally formed in Yavapai county (Prescott/Verde Valley). The thing was impressive, spanning an area all the way from the Harquahala Mountains to Prescott to Black Canyon City, continually forming good looking cells in the 50-55 dbz range. Holding out long after dark, in the late evening the activity dropped out of the Upper Sonoran terrain and into the Valley. I worked with it until about 2am from one of the mountain passes, and saw some beautiful CGs.

While framing up the McDowell range for a shot around 1:30am, I heard the distinctive tone of a Cosanti bell in the distance. Although there is no way to improve upon the sound of a Paolo Soleri bronze Cosanti bell, thunder works with it quite nicely. Paolo Soleri's sculptured bells are poured of heavy bronze in his studio in Scottsdale. Iconic to the Southwest as adobe walls and Navajo rugs, the sought-after works of art create an unmistakeable sound. One year I received a particularly heavy one as a gift from my parents. It makes a low ringtone, but only in monsoon or gale. When a Cosanti bell is ringing, you know there must be a breeze. They range in size from tennis-ball to several feet of heavy bronze suspended from chains.

(In case you're curious: http://www.cosanti.com/)

[Susan Strom]

Here's a little more about the current lightning photography show at Boyce Thompson Arboretum. If you happen to be in Arizona...feel free to stop by and explore the Arboretum and see this month's Visitors Center Gallery show...

The Boyce Thompson Arboretum Visitors Center is hosting a lightning photography show by Susan Strom and Cathy Franklin, through the end of August 2004. Informal coffee reception Saturday August 7, 2004 from 9am-11am. All are welcome. The photo show will also run through the end of the month. The photo show is starting to become an annual Monsoon event (this is my fourth one).

Park info (from their Web site):
The Boyce Thompson Arboretum is the oldest and most spectacularly situated botanical garden in the American Southwest! In the roaring 1920s mining magnate Colonel William Boyce Thompson founded this 320-acre collection of desert plants at the foot of towering Picketpost Mountain near Superior, Arizona. He wanted to create in this place the most beautiful and useful arboretum of its kind in the world, and to instill in people an appreciation of plants. Now, more than seven decades later, the Arboretum has grown to include two miles of walking paths, a place for children to learn and for all ages to appreciate the beauty and importance of our desert ecosystems. Visitors can purchase cacti, succulents, and water-efficient trees and shrubs at the Visitor Center. Arboretum admission is $7.50 for adults and $3 for children ages 5-12 (kids under 5 are admitted free). The Boyce Thompson Arboretum is located 60 miles east of Phoenix at milepost 223 on Highway 60, 90 miles north of Tucson via Highway 79 and three miles west of Superior (mining town). Amenities include hiking trails, restrooms, picnic areas. Approximate elevation is 2,400 ft. Day-use only. Admission is taken from 8-4 daily. Park telephone number is (520) 689-2811. On the Web at http://arboretum.ag.arizona.edu

Right now, visiting is best in the mornings as BTA is situated in Upper Sonoran terrain so still experiences the hot weather. However, there is a lot of shade among the mature trees and hiking can be for any level.

[Carrie Halliday]

If I were in the area, I would come check it out Susan.

Keep the Monsoon diary alive. Am enjoying your accounts.

From one lightning lover to another.........GREAT STUFF!!

[Susan Strom]

Thanks Carrie :)
I plan to keep the Monsoon Diary rolling until the stormy wx breaks in September. Some of my chases from last week I didn't log due to media stuff that I was involved in but I'll always make sure to journal the significant stuff. I've been very busy. (One experience that I forgot to add though... a few nights ago a car full of guys spotted me in the desert and turned to chase me! :shock: You never saw me move so fast in all my life...first time that happened in 8 years. Lost them on a frontage road literally in a puff of smoke. Anyway, that experience is still fresh in my mind...as is the unbending rule of mine (and WF's) to always have an escape route handy. No kidding. However, this week I got my favorite shot back from the lab...more on that later...I'm excited about that.

Aside from that... hey...is anyone in Tucson? I have a story in tomorrow's Star and I'm hoping I'll be able to scoot down I10 to pick up a copy somewhere. Anyway, I'll probably do some chasing in Tucson tomorrow night too if the stormgods cooperate. After all it is Thor's Day! Thurs & Fri are supposed to be active, the H is in the right place for tomorrow then supposed to move west after that but the flow from the south will come over the Sea of Cortez so we'll see if it imports moisture for us...

BTW the Monsoon Diary is 4 everybody...wherever the Monsoon reaches, El Paso...Denver...Nevada...Sierras...Intermountain West. The Diary is fair game for all :)

[Susan Strom]

Hi guys...

Some new pix not on my site yet are in the Daily Star today (Tucson). If you like big CGs take a look :)

http://www.dailystar.com/dailystar/starmedia/32860

cheerio...

[Carrie Halliday]

Awesome!!!

[Greg Campbell]

Originally posted by Susan Strom
Thanks Carrie :)

Aside from that... hey...is anyone in Tucson? I have a story in tomorrow's Star and I'm hoping I'll be able to scoot down I10 to pick up a copy somewhere.

I'll go grab one for ya. I can mail it, hold it for pick-up, or perhaps deliver it in person if I get to your Bryce Arboretum grand opening this Saturday.

-Greg

[Susan Strom]

Thanks Greg!!! I do appreciate that, yes just hang onto it for me, I'm sure I'll see you soon either at Boyce or chasing. I was planning to run down I10 tonight (and I still might if there's chasing in Tucson) but I just got a call for another morning news spot, this one is tomorrow at 6:05am (huge yawn) which means leave my town at 4:30am to get to ch 12 downtown Phx and set up on time. That's before birds and snakes get up. I appreciate that, Greg!!

[Susan Strom]

Thursday 8/5/04 (Thor's Day)

Despite my morning coming early, I caved to the prospect of storms in Tucson so hit the highway after dark. Halfway to Tucson, a large raindrop fell on my lip, like a storm kiss. It immediately reminded me of "cave kisses", the name that rangers give to drops of water that fall from the ceilings of spectacular caverns like Kartchner in Southeast Arizona. Getting a cave kiss means good luck! Does the same hold true for a storm kiss? Soon the inevitable "blap blap" quarter size drops hit the windshield followed by curtains of heavy rain. At the Flying J, I had one of those, what do they call it...Spanglish? conversations about the sunset with a driver headed to Mexico City. The sunset was a traffic-stopper, Arizona Highways cover shot, Ave Maria and all the angels coming out kind of thing. Unbelievable. When I got to the Central Deserts my NOAA picked up the severe warnings out for Santa Cruz & Cochise counties, even though clouds had been stratiform since Phoenix.

The minute I passed Picacho Peak heading south (Picacho Peak is a towering spire that juts out of the desert floor. It is also the site of the westernmost Civil War battle that took place in 1862), CGs started coming down in the desert like arrows. I pulled over in Marana but got back on the highway...too much industria in the foreground, no place for a clear shot. So I pressed on to areas near Ina Road (north Tucson) and got better views of the lightning there. CGs were blazing up north and west in the Catalinas and in Tucson metro. One of the most spectacular bolts occurred while I was driving. It looked like a huge ball of tinsel. Then there was a big teal green one over Mt. Lemmon, the 9,150ft sky island range that flanks Tucson. The action was great for awhile then moved NE very quickly and the area cleared again. It was over as fast as it started!

I didn't get to bed at all. After returning from Tucson, I had to leave by 4am anyway to be at the station downtown with a bunch of framed pictures and look halfway awake for the morning news. How they (anchors) do that every day is beyond me, yet they pull it together like sailing. Lifetime tab at Starbucks?? At 6:30am, the station's own chaser's pager went off, and he was out the door to get some vid on some cells in the East Valley. Lightning had been active since the crack of dawn. That old adage..."Red skies at night, sailor's delight" doesn't apply here. Red skies are just a hallmark of Monsoon.

[Morgan Palmer]

It's really been a pleasure reading all of these stories about the monsoon. Although I've never been to Arizona, I've seen quite a few storms (esp. when I was growing up) across the Jornada Del Muerto and Tularosa Valley in NM.

Some folks say they drove through New Mexico and don't know why anyone would want to live there. They say it's ugly. I think even the most barren desert floor is beautiful.

As for the morning news, I anchored one for two years. At the end of my stint, I decided I wanted to move from news to weather to finally make my hobby and passion my career. However, I don't know if I could have done it another few years. It's incredibly hard on the body, esp. if you're a night person. I am. My co-anchor and I would several times a week pop ephedra tablets (those diet suppliments) to jazz ourselves up, if but temporarily.

However, for the next four weeks, I'll be doing morning weather (my normal shift is weekends) before I take my much awaited vacation. The only thing is that shift starts at 3:30am... the old news shift started at 4:30ish.

:o
mp

[Joe Zemek]

Crazy convection breaking out all over... plus a severe warning for a storm just W of Winslow that looks supercellular on radar... might spin one of our 4-5 annual tornadoes...

Not to forecast too much, but the GFS put a huge precip blob over most of the state for Thursday. Fingers crossed for a big 'un...

So nice to have a somewhat cool (upper 80s) midday for a change...

[Greg Campbell]

BOOM ( complete with the 10HZ sound you can feel) just about caused me to loose bladder control. It was scarey and a thrill all at once. Unfortunately, the point of impact was not visible.

Staisfied that there was 'enough' :roll: activity to shoot, I started looking for a low spot to set up and the camera. The search for a safe site with a good horizon took 5~10 minutes, and by the time I was ready to go, the storm was past it's peak and fading fast. I'm pretty sure I got one or two pretty branching bolts on film. After another 10 min, the storm was nearly kaput, and the most intense lightning zone has moved still further to the NE. We jumped back in the car and drove another 15 miles (nearly to Reddington) before it became clear that the storm had pooped out on us.

This was by far the best chase I've been on, but I arrived maybe 20 minutes too late. By the time I got into a reasonable position and was shooting, the frustratingly ephemeral storm was already in decay.

There's a big buildup forming SE of town today. Hopefully, it or something closer will develop in the evening hours. Still, I'm afraid the atmosphere isn't as energetic today as yesterday.

-Greg

[bill mudd]

Its now august and am waiting for a sign of a big event in arizona - looking into weather maps of mexico its hard to tell 3 days in advance of something big because its mexico weather - any help on this I have to drive from california and would like some help here to save som time and gas
thanks
email mrbillmudd@cox.net (if you can accurately predict a 3 day monsoon outlook in arizona)

[Joe Zemek]

Originally posted by bill mudd
Its now august and am waiting for a sign of a big event in arizona - looking into weather maps of mexico its hard to tell 3 days in advance of something big because its mexico weather - any help on this I have to drive from california and would like some help here to save som time and gas
thanks
email mrbillmudd@cox.net (if you can accurately predict a 3 day monsoon outlook in arizona)


Well, for what it's worth, Bill, the 7 day GFS and the MRF have been saying Thursday continuing into Friday of this coming week for heightened AZ activity. Will have to be watched that far out, but it's a start.

[David Wolfson]

Bill, the ETA model gives you a pretty good idea of what's coming. You're not usually looking at Mexico, but rather for the "Four Corners" high pressure regime setting up with an easterly-southerly flow throughout low and mid-levels. A low-mid slack flow is ok for popcorn storms as long as the Colorado River surface heat low is well-developed and pulling in good moisture near the surface.

I'm just a long-time observer, and no expert, so take it for what it's worth.

The next three days look dry except for the extreme SE of Arizona and some Mogollon Rim showers. Thereafter the GFS is looking pretty grim, too, with signs of fall in the air. The normal monsoon season is roughly from July 4th to Labor Day. Such as it is/was the monsoon started late and may end early.

[bill mudd]

Thanks for that news on the 4 corners and the monsoon effect - someone said that arizona gets 5 tornados a year - if so where would you guys guess that these might possibly locate. I cant seem to find a pattern archive on this.
Again thanks for the quick reply
Bill

[David Wolfson]

Bill, from my years living here, my impression is that the best single place to see an Arizona tornado is in the Chino Valley - Prescott area, but a very long-shot. The best time is when the flow regime shifts gears to fall and you get a digging trough over northern Baja that rotates short waves through while there's still a reservoir of tropical moisture.

The current 14-day (8/21) GFS progs are somewhat of an illustration, although the upper features are a little too far west and too-long cut off. That's the general idea, though. You get enough of a moist surface gradient from the south and southeast overlaid by 30kt+ southwesterlies at 500Mb and 50kt+ at 300Mb.

The only warm-season tornado I've ever seen was silhouetted at night in eastern Tucson. It touched ground and did some F0 damage. I've also seen one that probably would qualify as a landspout and a few wintertime cold-air funnels.

[Joe Zemek]

Yeah, this is not the place to chase tornadoes; you just kinda have to be lucky. I got a little hyped about the storm with the inflow notch near Winslow the other day b/c I remember a couple TOR reports from the plateau up there, but David's correct in that these generally (if you can apply that word to 5 annual tornadoes!) happen at the end of the monsoon period, although Feb/March storms are also good candidates.

In short, what to chase here = lightning and massive haboobs framed by picturesque desertscapes. Looks like next weekend may yet shape up activity-wise. I'll make it a point to wash my car to improve the odds :D

[bill mudd]

thanks for everyones input regarding arizona monsoon season - being an amatuer here I am trying to get up to speed on my limited knowledge on this new past time. Next weekends ARIZONA storm potential would be great if my wife wasn't looking at surgery on Thursday. I should be able to do some chasing in 3 weeks...when does monsoon season usually wind down?

Question for all here: if you could pick 3 citys of choice to retire to for the purpose of tornado storm activity where would it be (must be west of the mississippi).
Would my choices of #1 Denver #2Kansas City and #3 Amarillo be amongst your pics?

thanks
(hope this is not off topic - if so Im sorry)

[David Wolfson]

Bill, I like your idea for a new topic thread in this forum, "Nice Places to Live and Chase"! My wife and I have been thinking about that lately, too. All things equal we like college towns and some trees. The Arizona monsoon ends on average the first week of September, or around Labor Day. I pray all things go well for your wife Thursday.

[bill mudd]

Hey Monsooners (if any are still here hanging}
Susan havent heardanymore from you in a while are you stiil out in Arizona? Word is next weekend is gonna be poppin there -
bill

[bill mudd]

Thanks David - should have my wife chasing by the end of the month!
looks like southern colorado is going off (not monsoon activity)near the pueblos! man I gotta get out of this southern california the sun is killing me!

[Susan Strom]

It was a pleasure hosting the annual Boyce Thompson Arboretum "High Voltage" Lightning Photography show reception yesterday in Superior, AZ. It was a great showing and so much fun to visit with all who came up to one of my favorite Sonoran wild parks. I especially want to thank Tucson visitors like Greg Campbell who drove up from Southern Arizona to be there, that was especially cool. It is nice to meet ST friends in person and I'm glad you found your beautiful Mojave Rattlesnake there on the park to photograph. I think you have earned the name "Snake Charmer" as he didn't even mind you standing there for half hour photographing him at close range.

The 2-hour reception ended up lasting for 4 hours followed by hiking around the shady areas of the park like the Australia Forest (planted in the 1920s), Palm Grove, and Herb and Demonstration Gardens. The park, a veritable oasis at the base of soaring Picketpost Mountain, was alive with many critters, butterflies, reptiles and rare hummingbirds to photograph. The park's array of color and activity was almost more than one could take in. Many desert wild things are lured by the lush environment.

Perfect-looking hard convection started building over the Superstition Range in the afternoon, so I figured the best chance for an early evening chase would be the mountain town of Globe, AZ. Things were looking good and CGs were cracking overhead in Globe around 4pm. After a caffeine stop at Java Junction in Globe's historic district, it was fun to caravan with Greg to the Apachelands after dark to check out remaining CGs in the area. Right after promising Greg who was behind me that "oh, I never get lost" :P , I took a really funny wrong turn down this mountain dirt road and we had to turn around to get to the highway! Storms turned out to be an afternoon show instead of an evening show, making Apacheland quiet for the nighttime hours. Watching the band "Haywire" (comedians...and I was losing it they were so funny) at Apache Gold was the perfect chance to unwind after a super fun day in the Superstitions. I returned to the Valley and started getting weary behind the wheel, so stopped for coffee and breakfast at a Waffle House in Apache Junction and listened to the server and cook's wild weather stories. Sunrise was beautiful over the Lost Dutchman area. I got home at sun-up exhausted but pleased with a super fun day. I will be hosting another lightning show at a different wild park this winter. I'm looking forward to it already!

Storm activity is expected to pick up again starting Thursday. The high is heading back to the Four Corners. Someone mentioned the Monsoon may end early? I actually got some really cool stuff last year in mid- to late- Sept. Typically, there should be about a month of Monsoon remaining... I'm ready :)

[Susan Strom]

Morgan wrote:
think even the most barren desert floor is beautiful.

It is!! One of the most beautiful, esp on the large scale (mountains & valleys) and on the small scale (plants & animals)

As for the morning news, I anchored one for two years.

Kudos! It is rather amazing how they (anchors) pull it off every morning at that hour, like smooth sailing. But they do...

[Greg Campbell]

Originally posted by Susan Strom
It was a pleasure hosting the annual Boyce Thompson Arboretum \"High Voltage\" Lightning Photography show reception yesterday in Superior, AZ. It was a great showing and so much fun to visit with all who came up to one of my favorite Sonoran wild parks. I especially want to thank Tucson visitors like Greg Campbell who drove up from Southern Arizona....I think you have earned the name \"Snake Charmer\" as he

Susan found a beautiful Mojave Green Rattler during a hike after the presentation.

didn't even mind you standing there for half hour photographing him at close range.

Must be my beady eyes... :cyclopsani:


The 2-hour reception ended up lasting for 4 hours followed by hiking around the shady areas of the park like the Australia Forest (planted in the 1920s), Palm Grove, and Herb and Demonstration Gardens. The park, a veritable oasis at the base of soaring Picketpost Mountain, was alive with many critters, butterflies, reptiles and rare hummingbirds to photograph. The park's array of color and activity was almost more than one could take in. Many desert wild things are lured by the lush environment.

Susan and Cathy did an awesome job at the reception. They had around 40 COOL picture on display, and patiently answered any and all questions fielded by the mob. The arboretum is an insanely pretty place, and I saw more gorgeous critters in one day than I usualy see in a month. Acre-for-acre, it is nicer than any just about an other place I've seen. Call it a National Park and be done with it!

Perfect-looking hard convection started building over the Superstition Range in the afternoon, so I figured the best chance for an early evening chase would be the mountain town of Globe, AZ. Things were looking good and CGs were cracking overhead in Globe around 4pm. After a caffeine stop at Java Junction in Globe's historic district, it was fun to caravan with Greg to the Apachelands after dark to check out remaining CGs in the area. Right after promising Greg who was behind me that \"oh, I never get lost\" :P , I took a really funny...

Dear, you have NO idea.... :lol: :lol: It was all I could do to stay on the road. :)


wrong turn down this mountain dirt road and we had to turn around to get to the highway!


Don't forget the rat-in-a-maze tour of Globe you subsequently led us on! Since she'd appropriated MY map, and was using it to navigate, all this was all MY fault, natch. ;)
When I left Tucson, I was anticipated meetting Susan, drooling over her pictures, and admiring the mountain scenery en passant. Never in my wildest dreams did I anticipate listening to a Barry Williams look alike sing "Ice-Ice-Baby....!" :headbang: in an Apache casino at minight. :P


Storm activity is expected to pick up again starting Thursday. The high is heading back to the Four Corners. Someone mentioned the Monsoon may end early? I actually got some really cool stuff last year in mid- to late- Sept. Typically, there should be about a month of Monsoon remaining... I'm ready :)

This evening I gave halfhearted chase to a storm out towards Kitt Peak. By the time I got out of town, it was clear that the storm was already out of gas. Time for one of your 'little talks' with the weatherman.

-Greg

[Susan Strom]

Since she'd appropriated MY map, and was using it to navigate, all this was all MY fault, natch.

Getting up on the washboardy dirt road past the Indian Ruins and off to Parts Unknown was not Greg's fault whatsoever, that masterpiece was entirely my doing! :P I carry 10 DeLormes with me in my map bag at all times, and the one I needed was my special Indian Lands map...which of course was on my dining room table when I got home LOL. Blonde caffeinated moments notwithstanding, we eventually found our way to the San Carlos Apachelands and when the storms died, stopped at Apache Gold and watched Vanilla Ice impersonations and country music au plethora performed by an unlikely group of band member lookalikes: Wolfman Jack, Vin Diesel, Owen Wilson, Kid Rock and Greg Brady. If they were any funnier I would have passed out on the floor. Then again, what can you expect from a band whose slogan is "Radioactive Country" :P

[Susan Strom]

It looked like Tucson to the Central Deserts lastnight. I caught a nice one in the San Tan mountains SE of Queen Creek. It was sparking pretty good but I got a bit sandblasted. I have some nerdy sand-proof glasses for that. I think I got a decent shot though over the San Tans with green fields in the foreground. Looked almost Plains-like. Perhaps a repeat tonight?

:glasses2:

[bill mudd]

Visible activity rigth now in the california desert should play out good this weekend for arizona - unfortunately my new motor home wont be ready for 2 more weeks so Ill have to hope for some end of the season activity hopefully
bill

[Chuck Vlcek]

Don't forget to watch for Perseids after the storms have gone to bed for the night.

Susan, I've enjoyed reading your logs and seeing your lightning photos. I haven't chased Arizona monsoons before but might get around to it sometime. Nearest I got to it was taking a float thru the Grand Canyon in early August 1976, and saw a bit of lightning and a couple of great Perseid fireballs.

[Susan Strom]

A massive line of storms in the 55-60 dbz range roared into West Valley of Phoenix after sunset Wednesday. At first I thought that downtown Phoenix was due so went looking for an urban vantage point where I could work with juxtapositions of reflective highrises and cornices from old buildings like the San Carlos Hotel or Westward Ho. Suddenly though, my metro plans were averted as the line of storms took a different track - making a violent sweep through the West Valley and rearranging landscape and washes. The NOAA cracked that a roof had blown into the highway at 67th Ave. Flash floods were running and trees were toppled, even onto the roof of a Channel 3 anchorwoman's home.

I chased it West on I10, in two-handed driving conditions with sand blowing across the road. The sand made a "sshhh" sound as it blasted my vehicle. I made it to Buckeye but then got word that a multicar pileup had just occurred on I10 in Tonopah, the next couple exits down. It was a massive accident that closed both sides of the Phoenix to Los Angeles corridor. 42 were injured, 4 lost their lives. Vehicles, including 16 commercial ones, met with the sandstorm that I was chasing and became entangled in the zero visibility and high winds causing the accident. This morning, cleanup is still going on. Mother nature had dealt a harsh blow.

As well, two fires north of the Valley broke out on mountaintops due to lightning. One threatened a government tower. When I returned home lastnight, the scent of desert fire was in the air. After I had turned around out of the West Valley, I ended up at the Gila River Indian community. There was some beautiful lightning there and I shot it off Maricopa Road in the Central Deserts. The huge complex with constant lightning blew through the area and ended up turning into a massive bomb over Tohono O'odham Indian lands around 10pm. Lightning trackers were showing thousands of strikes near Ajo eminating from the gigantic MCS that looked like a Christmas tree on radar.

Storms are expected again the next couple nights. This morning the AltoCu and the sultry air is no mistake. Lastnight I was hoping for a peek at a Perseid or two, but overcast lingered. Perhaps the High Country would be better hunting for the weekend.

[Susan Strom]

Chuck, fireballs and the Grand Canyon sound very nice. That's a photo opportunity to be sure.

[bill mudd]

Looks like there is a mesodiscussion in s/central AZ today - any chasers down there checkin it - was some mention of severe in mountains - would that be Prescott area?
bill

[Susan Strom]

Yes Prescott blazed up today (again), as part of a line up in the high country. Prescott to Wickenburg area has been El Dorado for chasing this year.

[Chuck Vlcek]

Chuck, fireballs and the Grand Canyon sound very nice. That's a photo opportunity to be sure.

I just missed a photo op there when a huge orange fireball zipped up from the Casseiopia "W" low over the horizon to a point directly overhead as I was setting up the camera for the next shot -- would have at least had the first part of the trail. This year I saw about 80 meteors from my place in Oregon on the night of the 11th-12th.

Glad you made it out of that sandstorm o.k. Severe weather AND traffic is a bad combo.

[Susan Strom]

zipped up from the Casseiopia "W"

From there a Perseid I would suppose. How pretty.

Storms are really starting to blaze up in Arizona. Looks to be a great next couple of days.

Happy hunting!

[bill mudd]

thunder and lightening in palm desert and julian with flood watches (1st monsoon activity this yaer in this area - does anyone know what saturday and sunday have instore for so cal?

[Greg Campbell]

Central AZ
8/14 ~ 8/16

Last weekend, Lightning Goddess 8) Susan Strom was kind enough to lead this noob lightning chaser on several great chases.

Saturday we roamed North, in search of elevation and cool air. There was tantalising development along the way, and it appeared that a monster TS was hovering over the Flagstaff area. Arriving in Sedona around 6, we decided to hoof up Airport Mesa and have a look around. We encountered a pretty sunset...and strange 'energy vorticies' that seemed to 'channel' the lightning elsewhere. The whole area died off after sunset Bad lightning vibes, I guess. ;)

Sunday was much more productive. Susan unerringly led us to a fantastic site overlooking a freeway. We watched as dozens of CG blasted a small range a few miles away. As usual, the lightning was not entirely predictable; one sector of sky would spark up, then die down as the area of maximum activity shifted capriciously from left to right. Before the same storms chased us away, we both got some good shots, and I look forward to seeing our results.

We chased yet again Monday and this time things were popping right over metro Phx. She found a neat little canyon road that led to a fantastic overlook of the valley. The active storms were somewhat distant, but still put on a good show over the glimmering city. Very nice.

I want to thank Susan for sharing her wisdom and experience, and showing me some very pretty scenery.

-Greg

[bill mudd]

great to hear from Arizona on this - next tuesday should bring in another system from what I can see, hope to be in Wickenberg for a few days there - this blue sky out here in CA is most depressing
bill
ps Id kill for a light show like that!

[Cstok]

I will be in Phoenix for bus. next week. I arrive on Sunday afternoon, and I am hoping to break away by afternoon so I can taste some of the Monsoon Magic!

Any thoughts on what the 22nd - 24 might hold? Will the monsoon be active?

[Greg Campbell]

Things have quieted down recently. My best guess is that late Monday is the earliest you'll see a return of heavy monsoonal flow.

That's not to say you won't see anything!
Less persistant storms will no doubt develop in the afternoon hours and may remain active for a while after sunset. Keep an eye on the Phx. doppler, and be ready to grab the camera and charge off anytime after 6pm or so. You'll need to find a shooting site before the short lived storms start to fade.

Hopefully the Lightning Godess :notworthy: will drop by and share her instincts. She knows SOOO much about Az storms.

-Greg

[Joe Zemek]

Latest ETA sez Tuesday pm looks pretty good. I look forward to finishing the roll of film from last weekend (got a nonrotating wallcoud N of Casa Grande! Too bad I'm an amateur nighttime lighting photog, so I bracketed the cr@p out of it and am hoping I got something). Got pounded by dust front and rain driving back to PHX, and did not see one photogenic CG in range. But the CC was constant and spectacular.

[Dave Chapman]

Southern California deserts get their own taste of summer monsoon weather on occasion. Last Saturday (Aug. 14), my wife and I saw a small tornado in the high desert west of Hesperia:

http://www.kickbully.com/Storms/phelan-tornado.jpg

We were driving back from a hiking trip in the Sierras when I noticed some towers building just north of the San Gabriel mountains. Convection in Southern California usually tops out fairly quickly, but two cells were developing more like the early stages a Plains supercell, with deep sustained updrafts over darkening bases.

I kept waiting for these cells to collapse, but instead watched as dark, rain-free bases developed on one cell a couple of miles to my southeast, and another the same distance to my southwest.

At the edge of the cell on my left, a very strong spin-up occurred. This was only a couple of hundred feet away and small debris was caught up in the circulation. Then a small tornado developed directly under the rain free base of the storm on the right, only about a mile away.

The tornado moved very slowly across open desert for about 10 minutes before dissipating in a cloud of dust (mistakenly reported as a 1/2 mile wide tornado by spotters).

Both cells soon became outflow-dominated, and we waited out the storm in the Hesperia mall. Flash flooding occurred nearby and nearby lightning and downpours seemed out of place for a Southern California summer.

[Cstok]

Nice pic Dave!! Thanks for sharing. That looks like an RFD notch on the right hand side of the picture... can you confirm?

[Dave Chapman]

My initial take is that the notch was due to uneven convection rather than a downdraft. There was no apparent mid-level rotation to generate an RFD and the notch is on the northern perimeter of the main updraft (fed by 10 mph southerly winds). If weak upper winds caused that feature, it did not appear to be significant to tornado development.

In looking for a possible cause of tornadogenesis, my bet is on the downdraft that had just formed to the south. The leading edge of the rain-cooled outflow probably created weak horizontal shear, which was soon stretched vertically by an unusually strong updraft.

[David Wolfson]

I'd probably think differently if I were there, but it looks to my jaded Arizona eyes like a rather common "gust devil" or "dustnado". Yesterday I was watching several in the distance and waiting for a decent picture at a Monument Valley overlook. They were also persistent and extended toward and occasionally even "into" a rain-free updraft cloud zone in the vicinity of a developing thundershower.

My own feeling is that for a whirl to be a "nado" you should have evidence of a condensation funnel somewhere below cloud base in the updraft column. That's what's usually missing IMHO.

[Dave Chapman]

Because of the desert location, I was looking at things a little differently. I may have been mistaken, but I assumed that the air was too dry for the drop in pressure to cause sufficient adiabatic cooling to create a visible funnel. Also, because the vortex was traveling over very hard desert soil, and lasted only a few minutes, there wasn't sufficient dirt or debris to vacuum up to the cloud base.

However, in terms of strength, height and shape, the vortex was very typical of an F1-damage potential tornado (my digital camera unfortunately did not pick up the less visible portions of the funnel). I had just seen a strong dust devil a couple of minutes earlier, and when I saw this new vortex, there was no doubt in my mind that I was looking at a tornado.

Impossible to verify, but I tend to be overly cautious about calling anything a tornado without clear visual evidence.

[David Wolfson]

Dave, you'd have some heavy-duty convincing to do to before I'd buy anything like F1 from that picture! TTI, much more spectacular dust devils than that don't even nearly make F0. It's truly amazing how much dust and crap some of those energetic little vacuums can pick up. With the rare one that might rate F0 you see pieces of tree and humongous amounts of dust, unless it crosses a populated area, in which case you see empty trash cans, sheet metal, and more stuff than you ever thought could be loose in someone's backyard dancing hither and thither.

Agreed about the dryness inhibiting lower-level condensation, but I'd still personally want to see some protrusion or at least some circulating scud below cloud base before I'm convinced. That said, I wasn't there and you were -- doggone it! :salute:

[Dave Chapman]

Good points...I've learned my lesson. Definitely not F1 in appearance, especially compared to a mesocyclone tornado.

[Joe Zemek]

Well... I'm somewhat conflicted about posting given my apparent jinx effect... but the MRF has shown for *two whole days now* that, beginning of Labor Day weekend, a tropical system will be drawn deep into AZ by a strong Pacific trough. Now, even if this forecast pans out, it could be a cooler, heavy rain event with the occasional thunder rumble, but that much juice and a 500mb jet that counts as high speed shear for this part of the country are exciting.

Pray... for... storms!

[Susan Strom]

After storms lined up like planes on a tarmac the week of 8/14, skies have been calm, blue and quiet since then. Signs of fall in the air? Actually, based on past experience I would say no, not quite yet.

Since I started chasing Monsoon 8 years ago I always notice around the third week of August there is a break, which as it turns out is rather typical and expected.

Will the fur start to fly again? If I were to lay money on the table I would say yes. What do I base this on? My past experience year after year with the Monsoon has always included September activity, particularly around Labor Day. Actually, the storm gods must have been smiling on me during years past, because early to mid September like clockwork brought strong storms with torrential rains, frequent lightning and moody temperaments prior to the Monsoon sputtering to a close a couple weeks later.

Rain-washed September evenings bring me images like this one, one of my favorites from fantastic 92-day pattern year 1999. http://www.lightninglady.com/photos/LLHighEnergy.jpg
This was taken during the second most violent Monsoon storm I have ever chased. I will never forget how the lightning looked that night, like Zeus having a mood swing.

Although it is true that drought conditions and urban heat islands kept some 2004 Phoenix Monsoon activity at bay, I remain optimistic for an encore or two especially in the desert foothills before we see the last of the Monsoon mid to late September. It's like what prospectors say: "Pan for gold where gold has been found before." I'm going to roll the bones and say that storms will be back at least for a couple more chases in September. Cameras are near the door.

If the sky remains clear though, I'll call for reinforcements and invite Greg Campbell of Tucson, who is a bit of a good luck charm, again up for a chase. Every time he visits Phoenix I swear he brings Tucson's lightning with him.

[John Farley]

This was not quite a monsoon storm, since it was more associated with a shortwave passing over NE New Mexico, but since 1) it was in New Mexico and 2) there's no reports thread on Target Zone for that day, I thought I would say a few words here about a spectacular storm my wife and I watched from near Levy, NM on 8/14/04. This SVR-warned storm produced a large, menacing wall cloud that showed rotation at times, and loads of CG, along with hail in the Eagle Nest and Cimmarron areas that completely covered the ground in some places.


Details and pictures at:

http://www.siue.edu/~jfarley/chase81404.htm

This was the only day we went out actively seeking storms, but the next day there was quite an impressive storm just northeast of Santa Fe, where we were staying, that caused serious flash-flooding at the Bishops Lodge (where we, fortunately, were not staying). The cars of a half-dozen employees ended up in a mud-covered pile, and several rooms were flooded and had to be re-carpted.

[Howard Robinson]

Hey Susan,

Nice updates on the monsoons, I remember when I lived out there was a break in August.

But, I do recall that when I was up in NorthEast Arizona during the last week of August, that a huge thunderstorm was building while I was in Sanford. Listening to the radio, they called it for SVR and I left to go back home to Phoenix. The darn thunderstorm chased me all the way back to Marcopia line. Got to see awesome lighting behind me.

[Susan Strom]

John, nice chase account. New Mexico can deliver the goods sometimes, most definitely. My first lightning chase in '04 was on the Sandia Crest :)

Hey Howard...
A Pacific storm, Hurricane Howard is currently 405 miles SW of Cabo San Lucas Mex as of 8am PDT 9/2. I'm keeping a (hopeful? wishful?) eye for the off chance that tropical moisture from its breakup will edge toward the Baja and feed moisture into Arizona via any weather disturbances that may occur. That would not be an uncommon setup for this time of year. Make a wish, raindance, break out the magic lamp. Although I hope for a last charge of activity before the Monsoon season starts to wind down, doesn't wishing for a hurricane feel a bit ironic today?

Howard-watching? Mexican satellite is available here: http://www.earthwatch.com/SKYWATCH/IRMEX2D.html

[Susan Strom]

A quick but punchy storm blew through lastnight in the East Valley PHX about 5pm. Mesa had large numbers of trees down and power lines across the road. Upon returning home more trees were down and street lights/signs were damaged and power had been out. It was reported as straight-line wind damage. Quite substantial actually.

Interesting weather continues. Does the Holiday Factor occur for Labor Day in Arizona too? Seems to. Interesting, Tornado Warning at this very moment for Forest Lakes up in the Rim Country (about an hour up the road). Atmosphere is very unstable. Could be a day of surprises in the Southwest. Good morning! Out the door.

[Greg Campbell]

Things are still quite dead in Arizona. I've seen a few scruffy storms over the last few days, but they invariably fall apart as soon as they loose direct solar heating. With dewpoints in the 50's (45 today) you can't expect much.... :(

-Greg

[Susan Strom]

Last year, I remember exactly how the Monsoon "ended". I remember it like it was yesterday. While standing at a desert trailhead before a hike, I watched the full Moon rise. With it, the last thunderstorm marched away, over the eastern mountains, into the darkness and gone for the year. It was almost ceremonial, the Monsoon door had closed and Fall was coming. It was perfect.

The slipping away of this year's Monsoon felt like losing one's hat in the wind. Where did it go? When did it go? The Monsoon is indeed gone, but before I download a Vermont Fall foliage image for my computer's wallpaper (to remind myself that it is Fall...somewhere), I await a few gasps from Hurricane Javier in the Pacific.

Rain and storms are due in Arizona for the weekend when a bit of imported moisture from Javier rides up to a cold front coming down from the north. We'll see what happens. The pattern is not Monsoon, but late September always proves interesting.

[bill mudd]

Yes I too watched last weeks end here to the monsoon season.....thunderstorms in places like Baker and Beatty seem almost out of place - major set ups over southern california deserts created an all too rare sight into amazing thunderheads
sad part is most californians walk around with their heads down!
well its time to put away the chase gear till March.....and save up some $$$ to cover the costs of spring chasing 1000 miles from home!
cheers
bill

[Greg Campbell]

Hurrah! :blob7:

The Arizona summer heat has finally abated. Tucson highs are in the low 90's with lows tickling 50! Dew points in the 30's are also very much welcome.
Yea, the Monson is almost certainly dead, but fall weather, and a chance to actually enjoy the outdoors, is welcomed.

-Greg

[Susan Strom]

iMuchas gracias, Javier!
Pacific hurricane Javier was generous last weekend as the remnants brought rain to Arizona. Although many Arizona towns reported 1 in of rain or so, a few places in Coconino County (north central Arizona) reported up to 4 ½ inches to local media. Flash flood warnings persisted all day on Saturday in many of the counties including desert areas as arroyos ran full. The Mogollon Rim Country (the southern boundary of the Colorado Plateau) received heavy downpours in places. Significant CA (cloud-to-air) and IC (intra-cloud) strikes occurred during the daytime hours.

Thanks to everybody for contributing to the Monsoon Diary...the posts were fun to read! As we know, rarely do desert dwellers have the same weather experience during Monsoon. One town might be sunbathing while another is being deluged with rain, lightning and wind. That’s the way it is, so it is especially nice to read everybody’s experiences. Same time next year! :)

Cameras are never put away though. It will be time to photograph aspens turning gold in a couple weeks near Flagstaff (about an 1½ hrs up the road). Flagstaff is alpine, with ponderosa, juniper, aspens and silver tips. Flag is also the county seat of Coconino County...the county that received a lion’s share of Javier’s rains.

This winter, as a part of the opening of McDowell Mountain Regional Park’s new visitors center, I’ll be setting up another lightning photography show (details to come). It’s going to be a lot of fun, and the center will give local Arizonans & visitors a chance to discover McDowell Mountain Regional Park, a 21,099 acre Sonoran Desert wildland with 40 miles of hiking trails in the Maricopa County (huge) Park System. The theme of the photo show will be lightning and Monsoon with some nature scenes specifically in and around the vicinity of McDowell Mountain Regional Park. I’m looking forward to it...

Maricopa County Parks (local best kept secret) - http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/.

[Susan Strom]

The Valley of the Sun (name for Phoenix, Arizona) was transformed lastnight into a valley of the Moon and lightning. The storms looked like Monsoon, felt like Monsoon, but instead were simply the result of low pressure over California sweeping moisture into the State. All of Northern Arizona and Phoenix, the southernmost boundary of the activity, experienced widespread showers and thunderstorms with numerous beautiful lightning more typical for July & August.

I set up on the West shore of Saguaro Lake, part of a long, forky reservoir system. This v-shaped canyon lake system is easy to remember by name: It looks, from an airplane, like a SCAR upon the land. Saguaro, Canyon, Apache, and Roosevelt are the lakes in that system, lakes that fill up part of the Salt River Canyon. This Web site shows a picture of the typical terrain: http://www.worldisround.com/articles/10174/photo7.html

Lightning was clearly visible hitting off the chiseled Wiley Coyote mesas at the other side of the water. Once in awhile a sharp, white moonbeam would pierce the cloudcover and sweep across the lake in a straight line, looking like some giant scanning-beam searching for something. What would it find? Anglers! Two fishermen in a metal boat were trolling in a lightning storm. It was so quiet and the wind was still as stone so I could hear their voices carrying across the water. Casually, they were talking about doctor's appointments, at least from what I could make out. When a big forky strike would hit the cliffs, I would hear a concerned "oooh" come from across the water. This didn't stop them and a company of 4 or 5 other boats on the lake from trolling in the stormy night. Saguaro Lake is a long lake. I could see another light or two, blinking in the distance. "How appealing to a passing stepped leader," I thought. If boaters knew the workings of a lightning strike, how it actually behaves, would it make a difference?

CGs in the area persisted until 1am. Late September never disappoints, I have learned.

[David Wolfson]

The only tornado reported in the country touched down in open rangeland east of Winslow, AZ, today. Definitely a tornado from a mini-supercell.

[Susan Strom]

Yes, people in Winslow were excited to see that yesterday. Full touchdown for 15 minutes. A big one, but apparently did no damage due to Winslow's remoteness. That is the second bona fide tornado Winslow has had in 15 months!

[bill mudd]

yea I was surpirised to see the photos you shared of the winslow incident - who would have ever expected this in late September - though I recently found out Oklahoma had a massive tornado in the finger 4 years ago that wiper out a complete town
bill

[David Wolfson]

Late September is right in the middle of Arizona's "tornado season", such as it is. After monsoon season, you occasionally get the right mix of instability and shear, with enough backed surface, up-rim moist flow advected by trough-induced pressure falls over the higher terrain. The typical supercells are energetic little blobs flying northeastward, not the lumbering monsters of the plains.

[Susan Strom]

Rather amazing stat I heard on local media this morning. The 2004 fire season in Arizona, which included the 120,000-acre blaze back in June, officially ended today. The massive Willow Fire (I chased it for a week prior to Monsoon) was sparked by a single lightning strike (dry thunderstorms, full of lightning but little rain, often precede Monsoon). KJZZ reported today that during this year's AZ fire season, not one house was lost!

[Dave Crowley]

A little late, but as I can finally post here on ST, here are a few lightning shots I got during my annual trek to SE AZ in August..
http://stormguy.com/arizona2004.htm

[Susan Strom]

Originally posted by Dave Crowley
A little late, but as I can finally post here on ST, here are a few lightning shots I got during my annual trek to SE AZ in August..
http://stormguy.com/arizona2004.htm

Wonderful, Dave! Nice job capturing the purple amethyst colors. The sky in Southern Arizona is clear as water, an awesome backdrop for your lightning.

I'm already looking forward to Monsoon 2005, a good ways off but I can think about it :-) Soon when I get a break I'll be able to roll up sleeves and get my '04 stuff up on my site; currently I'm into a long-term assignment for someone in Canada. I'll post soon though, it was a stop-start Monsoon but had some photo op gems.

[bill mudd]

slightly off target but just got in from a drive through vegas and there was so much snow everywhere I couldnt believe it! looks like the level was 3,000 feet - maybe the drought will be over soon!!!
never seen this much snow from utah to california and it all happened in one night, sunday
enjoy
bill