This article was first published in mid 2022 and I bring it out again because today is the start of Monsoon Season 2024 and it’s a great reminder of what we can look forward to for the next 100 days or so. 2022 was an active season – 2023 not so much. We have no way of knowing what the 2024 season will bring, but rest assured, we’ll make it through!
Keep reading to find out what it’s all about and you can also check out the 2023 Monsoon Update blog article for more info. You are, after all, #Transplanted.
Shortly after it is discovered that you are new to Arizona – transplanted, you will be asked 2 questions:
- Have you been through a summer?
- Have you been through a monsoon?
You will start to figure out that these must be important topics. The summer thing is a given. Yes, it gets pretty hot here and no, you’re probably not ready for it. But this monsoon thing, what the heck is the big deal about a monsoon?
Well, monsoon as it turns out is a term derived from the Arabic word mausim which means season. So instead of referring to a one-time event, the monsoon in Arizona refers to a season; a season of shifting winds from west to southeast, higher dew points, hot temperatures, haboobs and microburst! Scared yet??
Don’t be. Not that I want to trivialize the Monsoon because it can be quite intense but let’s give you some facts to wrap your thoughts around.
The season begins around June 15th and lasts until about September 30th. It is characterized by dew points higher than 55 degrees for multiple days and rainfall. The dewpoint means more humidity and the rainfall at times can be violent – sometimes called microburst. Flooding can and does occur. Swirling dust storms even get a name, “haboobs” which are very scary and dangerous for driving.
You are reading this blog as we near the end of the monsoon season for 2022, well 40 days or so away but who’s counting? And this season has been extremely active for rainfall and flooding to the north. Temperatures have been “cooler” meaning several days in the 100 – 109 range instead of the blazing 110+ that we usually see.
It’s a time that most Arizona residents don’t look forward to, but it comes around every year and we live through it. We hope that storms don’t cause extensive damage – landscaping can take a beating. We stay away from the washes and flooded areas that can become dangerous and we look forward to September 1st when we start to count the days until it’s over and the real reason we suffer through the “monsoon” once again becomes apparent. It’s sunny and 80 degrees for the next 60 days and beyond. Until the next June 15th rolls around….