The Monsoon Strikes!

The monsoon hit Tucson early this evening; about 6 PM a massive thunderstorm kind of moved in from the east and blew up at the same time, bringing sheets of rain, frequent flashes of lightning, crackling thunder, and howling winds. A fine storm! I of course enjoy thunderstorms much more when I am watching them than when I was working them at the weather office; you're too busy to enjoy the storm in that situation.

This picture was taken on a nature trail on the grounds of the Westward Look. The little arroyo at the bottom of the canyon was actually flowing...first time I've seen water in it. Not exactly a flash flood but significant. The area was under both severe thunderstorm and flash flood warnings during the storm. I put the Lizard outside to do storm duty and he measured about half an inch of rain in 45 minutes...not biblical but a respectable soaking.

In the gloaming at sunset, after the storm, a refreshed saguaro reaches for the sky. The cactus stores water in its interior and will weigh several tons after a good downpour.

On the nature trail, I came upon this lone flower on a cholla cactus, blooming several months late. The desert is full of surprises; plants, animals, weather, waterholes, etc. It's often harsh, but always beautiful and endlessly fascinating.