Another week and a half of storms amplifies the confusion

The monsoonal flow pattern setup again during the second half of June, and the associated thunderstorms and rain have created much confusion about whether the monsoon is causing these early summer rains in Arizona. The current state of weather affairs in southeast Arizona is illustrated below by two brief articles that have appeared in the "Tucson Citizen" newspaper:

Monday - June 26, 2006

Clouds and more Clouds

Moisture building now may bring early monsoon

Did you like the weather Sunday night? Mother Nature is expected to provide an encore every night this week, complete with high winds and possible rain.

Meteorologists believe the monsoon may even start this week.

'We're getting close,' said -----, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Tucson. 'Moisture is going to be increasing over the next couple of days.'

Up to 4,000 customers lost power during Sunday's storm, with electricity restored overnight.

Tuesday - June 27, 2006

Maybe soon

Signs say summer monsoon not yet upon us

It looks like it, it feels like it, but trust us - and if not us, the National Weather Service - the
monsoon has not yet begun.

For the monsoon to officially start the dew point must average 54 degrees on each of three
consecutive days, says -----, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service
here.

'We've hit 54 several times in the past few days, but we haven't averaged 54 yet on any given day,' -----said.

Sigh.

The average dew point Monday was 52 degrees.

We'll be watching.