FAQ: Chasing the Southwestern Monsoon

[Greg Campbell]

After attempting to chase monsoon thunderstorms in 2001 and being in the area during a long down time, I have made plans to try again this year. I will be based in the Tuscon area from Aug 30th to Sept 3rd. Lets hope my luck is better this time around. Some changes from last time... I now shoot with a digital SLR as opposed to film in 2001, and I will have live radar to help out with finding the best storms.

Doug Raflik

Doug, if you need a place in Tucson to crash, just holler.

-Greg

 

[Christopher Jacobs]

NWS Tucson Monsoon Forecast

NWS Tucson has come out with their monsoon forecast. It is basically the usual...complete uncertainty. But, there are some interesting things in there...such as the recent wetness in the plains affecting the placement of the high...or a possible rapid flip to La Nina this summer.

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/images/twc/ArticulatePresentations/MonsoonFcstMay20/player.html

Anyway...hoping for a good year as usual...as this is the first year that I have a DSLR. It is also nice to be finally feeling a little bit of heat here in SoCal. It has been a long, cool spring until now.

 

[Susan Strom]

Hi all,
It's almost here...and just prior to the calendar date (6/15) saying that it is, NWS has declared Monsoon Awareness Week, with various topics including flash floods, dust storms, heat, wind, and lightning.
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/psr/general/safety/monsoon-awareness-week.php

I won't expect desert storms until July, but mountain storms are forecasted. And that always means lightning

Cheers...

 

[Susan Strom]

Hi, there is a thread about Monsoon chase safety relating to the drug and smuggling corridors in Arizona. Take a look...add your comments... thanks.
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=24472

 

[Susan Strom]

Well the Monsoon calendar season officially arrived today 6/15 and will run until 9/30. It may be another week or two before pattern shift and storm development, but I'm glad at least the calendar says it is Monsoon 2010. Clear skies, but I look forward to the change that will come soon.

Track it here...
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/twc/monsoon/monsoon_tracker.php

Happy Monsoon!

 

[Coy A. Wilhelmy]

Thanks for all the great info, and photo's. My family and I will be spending a few days mid-July driving through Arizona/New Mexico on my way back to St. Louis, and I plan on keeping my camera handy.

 

[Greg Campbell]

Can't say I'm impressed with the arbitrary June 15 season opening.

DPs are in the high 20's across far SE Az, the first place to see Monsoonal flow.

 

[Christopher Jacobs]

I have been noticing an increasing number of thunderstorms during the past week in the Sierra Madre Range of Central and Northern Mexico...a sign that moisture is beginning to build south of the border.

But, that moisture is likely to stay down there for at least another week or two as troughs continue to dig through the west coast. Standing by!

 

[Greg Campbell]

Good cloud cover over Tucson and most of far SE Az today!
Mid level moisture is high enough for the weather service to have issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for the area, but dry microbursts and lightning in the mountains are about all we can expect for now. As with Tornado Season in the plains, the last few weeks of waiting are the worst!


Closer.... closer....!

 

[Susan Strom]

Well today is the first day it looks like there's some quasi-serious monsoon action in the eastern mountains of Arizona. Last year too, the first storm I had available to chase happened to also be on 6/28
http://www.lightninglady.com/photos/StromGoldStrike.jpg
It would be nice to have a repeat!

Good luck to everyone chasing Monsoon 2010! I hope everyone gets great CGs, flash floods and even a sandstorm or two in the American Southwest.

What is Monsoon
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/twc/monsoon/monsoon_info.php

Track the Monsoon
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/twc/monsoon/monsoon_tracker.php

Storm Prediction Center radar
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/radar_tab.php

Be sure to post your experiences!

 

[Ed Boik]

Well today is the first day it looks like there's some quasi-serious monsoon action in the eastern mountains of Arizona. Last year too, the first storm I had available to chase happened to also be on 6/28
http://www.lightninglady.com/photos/StromGoldStrike.jpg
It would be nice to have a repeat!

I was ready to post the same thing. Good 50+ dew points at the surface and good 850 lvl saturation too. GFS has this persisting for a couple days, may until Sunday for a good portion of the south half of Arizona.

The model runs on Alex have been persistent at bringing it in to or near Arizona. I'm in the West Valley of Phoenix, so I'll have to play the waiting game.

 

[Brandon McClung]

Do you guys know of any lightning overlays for GR3 that are available for AZ/NM? I had one that worked great for the midwest, but the shapefile didn't cover the western conus.

I live in Tucson, so if the pattern continues, I should be able to get out into the desert tomorrow night after work. Any suggestions on places to head to, to try and get some strikes?

 

[Greg Campbell]

Scroll up a page or five, there is plenty of material in the thread.

What end of town do you live in?

 

[Ed Boik]

Monsoon looks to be getting organized in AZ this weekend. Good luck to anyone heading out.

 

[SANDRA L. BOHANNAN]

NO. ARIZONA MONSOON 2010 OUTLOOK

Hello!

You certainly can't ask for a more beautiful state to Monsoon chase than Arizona!

My husband and I will be spending 2 weeks at our cabin in the Happy Jack, AZ. area in Northern Arizona (halfway between Winslow, Payson & Flagstaff) not too far from Mogollon Rim. We will be there from August 8th thru August 20th, and are hoping that the Monsoon will show itself as it has in years past.

We live in So. Cal., where we get almost NO weather to speak of so we cherish the two weeks or so a year when we can chase some in No. Az.

Would you have an idea as to what the Monsoon season has in store for up there this year?

Any advice, insight or guesses would be appreciated!

Thanks!