Over the southwestern united states, the nam typically ramps up in july and persists through august. The san juan mountains experience a rainy season known as the monsoon season which consists of day after day of torrential rains and overcast skies. The north american monsoon, variously known as the southwest monsoon, the mexican. Tracking the arrival of the summer monsoon bouldercast. Guess we lucked out last julyit was really hot but sunny. Take a look at some facts and history about monsoon season. The etymology of the word monsoon is not wholly certain. Strengthening of the asian monsoon has been linked to the uplift of the tibetan plateau after the collision of the indian subcontinent and asia around 50. Mid and long range weather models predict a delay in the onset of monsoon season across the american southwest. National weather service forecast models show lateafternoon showers developing in southwestern colorado through at least monday. If planning to visit or recreate in the southwestern united states in the summertime, its important to be aware of the afternoon thunderstorms typical of monsoon season. Early june is generally better than monsoon season.
Long range forecasts are regional, not cityspecific. We discuss why this wont necessarily impact colorado all that much, at least compared to other states such as arizona. Monsoon 2019 is a season sedona, az first of all, there is no need to add season at the end of monsoon because monsoon is a season. The monsoon season, which typically starts around the middle of july in colorado, actually began at the beginning of the. Our visitors are reminded not to park their rvs in our washes. This is very understandable as the thought of rain and floods is enough to put a dampener on any holiday. In fact, wolter believes the southwest monsoon began early this year. Allow between 818 days for the trip, depending on your pace and skill level. The old farmers almanacs scientificallybased, long range forecasts can be used to make more informed decisions about future plans that depend on the weather, from vacations and weddings to sporting events and outdoor activities. This wind shift during monsoon season, and the dramatic change in weather it brings are all more or less driven by a similar mechanism. Monsoon season typically starts in mid july and continues through the end of august but can persist as late as october. Monsoon season is the name for a period of time in which monsoon storms take place. For the southwest us here defined as arizona, new mexico, and far west texas, see figure 1, monsoon 2019 will go down as one of the hottest and driest on record.
After all, since monsoon season is a season, most people should not be concerned with whether or not. Arizona summer monsoon season precipitation mapping. This moisture can be observed by an increase in dew points. Colorado floods created by hot september, long monsoon. Derived from mauism, the arabic word for season, a monsoon often refers to a rainy season but this only describes the weather a monsoon brings, not what a monsoon is. Seasonal average total precipitationpercent of days with rain. In north america, the monsoon impacts arizona, new mexico, nevada, utah, colorado, texas, california, and mexico. Monsoon season in the southwestern united states durango. Monsoon season knocking on colorados door cbs denver. Prior to 2008, the phoenix area monsoon season was considered to start when there were three consecutive days that the dew point averaged 55 degrees or higher, but in 2008 the national weather service decided to take the guesswork out of monsoon start and end dates. It refers to the largescale wind flow that lasts for a whole season near the indian ocean and the arabian sea. A monsoon, therefore, is simply a seasonal wind flow pattern. The weather in phoenix is generally calm, with day after day of clear, sunny skies.
That said, only a small sliver of far southwestern colorado is officially in. The summer monsoon is weeks away from hitting colorado and this year it could bring more rain than usual. The great whirl forms off the coast of east africa each spring and is linked to indias monsoon season. Monsoon lovers may have to wait awhile for our daily dosage of summertime thunderstorms. A typical monsoon pattern shows the greatest precipitation anomalies extending from arizona and new mexico and past the four corners your geography lesson for the day. After all of the snow and cool weather across colorado for most of. That probably wont happen until the end of july at the earliest, according to the extended 14day forecast. While the next week to 10 days will continue to be warm and dry around western colorado, climate models indicate the upcoming monsoon season could start early and bring more rain than usual this summer, a forecaster said wednesday. Strong, early monsoon season predicted for western colorado. See long range weather forecasts for the next 60 days for the desert southwest region. Colorado ranks number 2 in the nation for lightningrelated deaths and injuries on average about 18 people are killed or injured by lightning in the state.
Viewing 12 posts 1 through 12 of 12 total forums are supported by our merchant partners disclosure rei coupons zpacks hyperlite patagonia arcteryx rbtr drop backcountry feathered friends. Flash flooding can also occur during a particularly heavy downpour, so play it safe, and plan hiking and outdoor activities for the morning. Id love for someone to shed some light on the reality of this for me. However, its arrival is not something you can mark on the calendar as there is no set date for its commencement. Its been a slow start to the monsoon season in colorado, but there are. Colorado monsoon, monsoon season, north american monsoon. It isnt a season like winter or summer, its a season like deer season or tornado season. Which was not a result of the baby boom that followed world war ii answers apex. The frequent midtolate afternoon thunderstorms colorado experiences during july, august, and. So, all monsoon season means is that we have daily afternoon thunderstorms. Recent storms impressive, but monsoon seasons peak still. The monsoon pushes as far west as the peninsular ranges and transverse ranges of. The monsoon season seems to be arriving in colorado.
Given that the most popular time to ride the colorado trail is during the summer home to the monsoon season pace will often be dictated by afternoon storms, so factor this into your timing and make sure youre below treeline when one hits. The north american monsoon, variously known as the southwest monsoon, the mexican monsoon, the new mexican monsoon, or the arizona monsoon, is a pattern of pronounced increase in thunderstorms and rainfall over large areas of the southwestern united states and northwestern mexico, typically occurring between july and mid september. Smoke season is replacing the monsoon season colorado. Monsoon season seems to be arriving in colorado the. Late june and early july are the hottest time of the year generally at the grand canyon. Monsoon rains a noshow so far in southwest colorado the rain that has fallen in southwest colorado in recent weeks is not the result of. Nelson says the summer monsoon season will probably start later next week, give or take friday. The official monsoon season starts june 15 and ends sept. Monsoon rains a noshow so far in southwest colorado. Things im reading say it thunderstorms everyday mid julymid august. To see long term forecasts for the entire year, pick up a copy of the 2020 old farmers almanac, available online and in stores. This should aid the fire situation in the mountains and ease dryness on the front range. However, the good news is that you dont have to let the monsoon ruin your travel plans, and travel can even be.
Monsoons play a critical role in the desert and mountain environments of the southwest by providing much needed water. So true, northern colorado gets more rain in june while southern colorado usually gets more rain during the summer monsoon. Once the forests of the sierra madre occidental green up from the initial monsoon rains, evaporation and plant transpiration can add additional. Some of colorados most deadly flash floods have happened during the last week of july, which is in the heart of monsoon season. Its monsoon season but what does that mean for colorado. Once this process begins, the onset of the monsoon season can be rapid.
February 2020 long range weather forecast for high plains. I was planning a trip to colorado and the co plateau this summer and im just now finding out about monsoon season. Meteorologist sam schreier discusses monsoon season in colorado. The term monsoon comes from the arabic word mausim, which means a season.
A monsoon is a seasonal large scale pattern that brings thunderstorms. Monsoonal showers usually produce locally heavy downpours, causing flood advisories. For western colorado, and even extending to the front range, the monsoon is a seasonal pattern that pumps moisture from the gulf of california northeastward to the four corners, the quadripoint in the southwest u. Denver after a mild winter and whats shaping up to be one warm summer, some refreshing news. Despite differing opinions on the topic, colorados monsoon season is already underway, according to klaus wolter, an atmospheric scientist at the university of colorado at boulder. The main monsoon season in india runs from june to september and the question on everyones lips is always, whats it really like and is travel still possible. The phenomenon is caused by southerly winds that bring moisture up from the pacific ocean and gulf of. Cuboulder scientist says monsoon season has begun and. The monsoon season will officially begin, and deliver consistent rain, when the aforementioned plume settles to the east of the area, aleksa said. Home forums campfire pretrip planning monsoon season bad time to visit co. With the first fullweek of july coming to a close, monsoon season is right around the corner for northeast colorado. A measure of the difference from expected precipitation over the period of 615 to present calculated against a longterm mean. Although the word monsoon may have you thinking rain, the term actually refers to a large scale change in the overall weather pattern allowing an influx of moisture.
A count of days observing greater than or equal to 0. Most people who hike colorados 14ers do so in july and august when the temperatures are warmer and the trails are generally snow free. The summer monsoon season accounts for much of colorados precipitation during the year. The monsoon arrives in late july or early august and can last into the first weeks of september. August is the rainiest month, with a unique weather phenomenon called the monsoon. The rainy season, or monsoon season, begins on or about the first week of july. A monsoon is actually a seasonal shift in wind direction and pressure distribution that causes a change in precipitation. Colorados monsoon rain season almost always ends by august. The north american monsoon or nam is a shift in the wind pattern that allows for continuous moisture to flow from the gulf of california into the normally arid southwest region of the country. Monsoon affects the west and southwest states because the pattern of the weather changes as noted below. After an abnormally cool and wet period the front range and most of colorado has settled into a drier and warmer period for the month. Colorado makes up the northeast corner of the four corners. It generally starts in midjune and lasts through the end of september. Its also monsoon season, when afternoon thunderstorms are.
Understanding colorados moonsoon season weather youtube. Most of the precipitation seen in southern colorado east of the mountains occurs during monsoon season. Will monsoon season arrive late this year to colorado. Late summer is the hottest time of year for the colorado plateaus high desert. Monsoon season has officially kicked off in the southwest us. This time of year should be associated with afternoon rainstorms and lightning, so be prepared and plan accordingly. How long does colorado monsoon season last answers. Based on monthly data junsep from the noaa national centers for environmental information ncei, this was the 9th driest figure 2 and 3rd hottest figure 3 monsoon for the southwest, with records dating. However, this coincides with monsoon season, that time of. We now have smoke season which is largely coincident with summer and at least partially a product of the earlier springs and warmer summers created by climate change. While the next week to 10 days will continue to be warm and dry around aspen, climate models indicate the upcoming monsoon season could start early and bring more rain than usual this summer, a forecaster said wednesday.
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