Friday, July 17, 2026

It Isn't The Heat...

 

If you said, "It's the humidity," you get one bonus point.  If you live in the desert, you probably said, "Oh, bullshit - it IS the heat."  You get 5 bonus points for that correct answer.

More monsoon season talk: the high temperature today is supposed to be below 100º - that is unusual for July in the desert.  The weather weasels are calling for 98º for a high.  I would say that would be a refreshing change, but... it is the humidity.  This morning when I got up, it was 79º.  That would normally call for a celebration, but... the humidity was 78%. 

The pavement was wet when I looked out, but it quickly dried.  A good chance of rain for most of the day.  And, when I say, "A good chance of rain," that means a possibility of flash flooding here in the desert.  The TV is scrolling "Flash Flood Warnings" for 3 counties here, including the one we live in.  We are not in a "low lying" area... but, we live at the foot of a mountain.  And heavy rains can bring a a deluge of mud and debris down the mountain.

It happened last year when Joan and I were out of town; crud came down the mountain, plugged up a drainage wash, and made for some street flooding in our neighborhood.  It didn't affect us, but the streets a few blocks from us had a mess to deal with.  That was called "a once in a decade" storm.  Pretty sure that doesn't mean we're good for the next nine years.  ;-)

For those keeping track: "Officially, monsoon starts June 15 and runs through Sept. 30.  In the 2026 Monsoon Outlook from the National Weather Service, there is a 33% to 50% chance of above-normal precipitation in nearly all areas of Arizona.  The greatest chances for above-normal precipitation are across northeastern Arizona."  

Seems like Mother Nature is pissed: bad air from forest fire smoke in New York City, Detroit, and Cleveland, higher than normal temps across much of the country, flooding in central Texas.

 

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