For years my girlfriends have been raving about the Monsoon season. The general rule of thumb, Monsoon begins in the July 4th week and continues to Labor Day. \u00a0First, let me define what I see is a Monsoon? It is more than a rainstorm. It is an event brings change to the constant heat that is normal to the Arizona desert. \u00a0The humidity builds to opppressive levels while clouds tower above. \u00a0Than a fat drop of rain falls and soon the shower is a downpour. \u00a0Thunder shakes the windows and lightning dances. \u00a0As the rain passes by a refreshing breeze lifts the cottonwood’s leaves and colors are bright and shiney.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve been told the Native Arizona people two words for rainfall. One is female and denotes the gentle winter rains that fall for hour upon hour. The other word is masculine for the thunder, lightning, and torrid rainfall of the monsoon. Fierce and short-lived, a monsoon will tear trees from hillsides, move boulders from place to place, and can even fill a dry wash with dangerous fast-flowing run-off in a matter of minutes. Winter rains are life-giving but a summer monsoon can destroy. However, a monsoon makes the desert so green, it can make your heart burst.<\/p>\n
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\nHere the sky begins to fill with classic Monsoon clouds over the saguaro dotted desert around Tucson.<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nIn the center of this photo is a “localized” downpour. Taken from the road to Mt. Lemon (Coronado National Forest) outside Tucson.<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nMonsoon showers at sunset. Reminds me of those gauze curtains across the livingroom window.<\/p>\n