Sunday, Aug 26, 2001
Vol. 3 No. 17
Monsoon Break& Record Heat |
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By Michael Plagens |
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PHOENIX ----- On Wednesday, Aug. 21 high pressure moved in from the Pacific into the Southwestern United States cutting off the moist monsoon flow from the south and east. This mass of dry air has heated up rapidly with temperatures exceeding 45°C across much of the Sonoran Desert. The monsoon represents a flow of humid air, but there is no guarantee that the humidity will result into significant rainfall. Like the year 2000, and like much of the Western United States, rainfall has been well below average this summer with many areas getting only a smattering of light rain. Another surge of moisture could arrive in early September carried on the back of an errant tropical storm, but at this point that is wishful thinking. For many Sonoran Desert summer creatures the wait for ideal conditions will have to wait at least until 2002. |
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