Arizona Monsoon
Each summer in Arizona we go through a short storm season. Just as the temperatures become unbearably hot, a little moisture starts to come in and we get our summer "Monsoon!"
From the right vantage point, you can watch a wall of dust, some over 2,000 feet tall (A 200-Story building!) engulf the Valley at speeds up to 35 miles per hour. If we are lucky, a thunderstorm will roll in right behind it, dropping the temperature (sometimes 20 degrees) and bringing us our much needed rain.
Monsoon storms can drop an inch of rain in less than an hour, which always leads to flash flooding and, inevitably, fools stuck on the top of their cars after trying cross flooded washes. In fact, a law is now enforced called The Stupid Motorists Law. If a rescue team has to come and get you after you tried to cross a flooded wash and got yourself stranded, you will get the bill for their services.
The lightning shows are always spectacular and the thunder is louder than you have heard anywhere else. The storms do bring much damage and it is nearly impossible to keep your car clean this time of year. However, they are a sight to see.
Phoenix is seeing less of these storms each year. The decline is being blamed on the "heat island" we are building with all of our booming construction...concrete and more concrete.
The photos I have included are not mine but I thought you might enjoy!
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