It’s been a while since my last blog, but I’m back from my summer vacation in Seattle, and I’m ready to get blogging! Monday was my first storm chase of Monsoon Season 2017 and also my first chase south of Tucson (crazy, I know). The chase was tiring and frustrating, but I should have expected that considering it was a tricky storm environment from the beginning. The forecasts showed potential for strong storms in three separate areas: 1. Tucson/Coronado Nat….
What a night! Following a beautiful spring Monday, evening showers and storms began popping up near Cave Creek. I captured a few shots of the distant lightning. If that wasn’t enough, ANOTHER storm exploded to the southwest and barreled through town, just south of downtown Phoenix. Just a few days before, I posted to my Facebook “Uggh. I’m dying to see some storms.” Ask and you shall receive! These storms were very sudden and difficult to forecast due to an…
For a weather nerd; lightning, thunder and hail is a great way to start the day! Clouds began bubbling around 9AM and quickly led to towering thunderstorms across the Valley. The huge storms came as a surprise because they were not mentioned in last night’s forecasts. Below is a time-lapse of the storms over the Tempe/Mesa area. Small hail was reported with these storms as well. Here’s a clip taken by Mike Olbinski while near pea-sized hail was falling in North Phoenix….
A pair of cyclones are spinning like tops in the Pacific Ocean. Once these systems combine into one, they’re expected to bring torrential rain, flooding, high winds and general storminess to much of the Southwest. Weather models simulating the storm’s arrival show copious moisture rushing onshore. The weather model below demonstrates impressive high clouds exploding over California as the storm arrives. The entire southwest region will feel the effects from this massive system. As the storm landfalls on the California…
We’ve all heard about the Santa Ana Winds. They’re dry gusts of air that are forced through the gaps in the San Diego mountains, and Southern California is getting hit big time right now. San Diego High Wind Warning WINDS…NORTHEAST 20 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 65 MPH TODAY. LOCAL GUSTS OVER 75 MPH IN THE WIND PRONE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS. ON SATURDAY THE WINDS WILL NOT BE QUITE AS STRONG… ESPECIALLY IN THE COASTAL AND VALLEY ZONES. -National…
Any plans for the weekend? Well you may want to consider the weather forecast first. Super computers used to forecast the weather are showing a jet stream of 170+mph winds spanning over 3000 miles of the Pacific Ocean. Imagine getting in a plane, flying up to 20,000ft and getting a 150mph kick in the head. That’s what we’re expecting to arrive in California starting Friday. What does this mean? Firstly, it means a dousing for Southern California. The coasts are…
Hey everyone! I must be really lucky because my favorite weather is possible in the Valley this afternoon; thunderstorms! Like I mentioned in the last blog, a huge ‘dip’ in the atmosphere is moving across Mexico today. This upper level system is sending moisture, high winds, and cool air into the skies above us. These conditions will come together to create some turbulent weather today. Showers with a few rumbles of thunder (nothing severe) are expected to move through this…
After moving to Phoenix from Seattle last week, I was blown away by the three day streak of amazing sunrises and sunsets. I guess that’s something I’ll have to get used to around here! Another thing I’ll have to get used to is how little it rains! However, We did get some nice sprinkling rain during my second day at ASU. Interestingly the rain and the beautiful skies are somewhat related. Strong weather systems packed with upper level moisture have…