Monsoon moisture US
Monsoon Moisture To Southwestern US
The North American monsoon has gotten off to a strong start in parts of the drought-stricken Desert Southwest, but meteorologists warn the widespread stormy weather may begin to fade, at least briefly, later this week.
The change in wind direction from the predominant westerly breezes most of the year to a more south to southeast direction during the summer months is an annual phenomenon. Moisture from both the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of California is brought up by this air movement.
The monsoon season began on June 15 in the Southwest, and numerous cities are already exceeding their typical precipitation levels this early in the rainy season.
Monsoon moisture US
Monsoon moisture to dwindle across the southwestern US
Since June 15, Phoenix, for example, has received 0.43 of an inch of rain, which is 356 percent more than the city’s average of 0.13 of an inch for the same period. Tucson, Arizona, has received 0.67 of an inch of rain, compared to the national average of 0.35 of an inch. Albuquerque, New Mexico, has also seen a lot of rain since the monsoon started, with nearly one inch.
Meanwhile, El Paso, Texas, has received 4.67 inches of rain since mid-June, compared to an average of 0.88 inch over the same time period.
However, the region as a whole requires a significant amount of rain to alleviate the widespread extreme and exceptional drought conditions.
Forecasters warn that, at least in the short term, the needed rainfall will be decreasing over the region.
While the monsoon season has been off to a good start with fairly widespread shower and thunderstorm activity, rainfall in the Desert Southwest will diminish somewhat beyond midweek, according to Meteorologist.
An area of high pressure tens of thousands of feet high in the atmosphere is expected to build over Arizona and the rest of the interior West, which will act to suppress monsoon activity southward into Mexico.
Through Wednesday, downpours largely shifted out of Arizona and focused over Colorado and New Mexico.
By Thursday and Friday, however, drier air will move back in and put a lid on thunderstorm formation.
Stray afternoon thunderstorms may continue to bubble up over the highest peaks in the Four Corners states late this week, but precipitation will not be nearly as widespread or intense as prior days.
“As the rainfall chances diminish, temperatures will run higher, increasing cooling demands across the Southwest,” Metrologist said.
Monsoon moisture may again increase across the region as early as next week.
reference- Monsoon moisture US, AccuweatherÂ
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