What is the Arizona Monsoon?

If you are considering moving to Arizona or the greater Phoenix area there are many things to consider.  However the most raised question is the weather and ‘how hot does it really get?’  Being originally from the east coast and moving to Arizona in 1974 has allowed me to experience the difference for myself.

While most my relatives are shoveling three feet of snow, I’m out playing tennis or golf in Valley of the Sun. In the summer however, there is no denying it gets extremely hot in Arizona. There is no way around it, hot is hot. Often times my out of town guests have often described it like having a blow dryer in your face. I can’t disagree.

I have learned to live with it, some just can’t deal with it. I pretty much accept the fact that if I need to move from one place to the next, there is always air conditioning at the next spot. Air conditioning in the malls, in our cars, in the grocery stores, so there is no threat of dehydration between your favorite spot. It’s not all that bad. The good outweighs the bad!

While others might be dealing with shoveling snow out of their driveways, earthquakes, floods, tornadoes and other weather calamities, Arizona really only has a season of Arizona monsoons.

What is the monsoon?  Living in one of the most beautiful deserts in the world — the Sonoran Desert stretches from central Arizona  down into Mexico.

Under normal weather conditions, the Sonoran Desert does experience hot temperatures and very dry heat, but once summer rolls around, temperatures drop and our humidity and dew point rise.  Monsoons are not about rainfall. In fact, you might be surprised to learn that the monsoon is defined as “any wind that reverses it’s direction seasonally.”

Near the end of June and into early July, the wind patterns over the south of Mexico begin to switch. Winds will turn more to a south and southeasterly direction, bringing in moisture from the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of California.

As a result, the moisture combines with intense summer heat, producing thunderstorms in and around the Valley.  The monsoon storms can produce heavy rain, dust storms, lightning, strong winds and flash floods.

The monsoon season officially begins when our dew point averages 55 degrees or higher for three consecutive days. The monsoon season can begin as early as mid June and go to the end of September.

While our summer monsoon can be exciting and even beautiful, storms can pop up at a moments notice, causing major damage.  It’s always best to have a plan of action if you are caught out driving when a monsoon hits unexpectedly.  If you can, avoid driving during a summer monsoon storm as visibility can be rather difficult and very dangerous.  Be safe and enjoy the beauty the Arizona monsoon sky!