The Monsoon

This is the Santa Cruz River. It is approximately 184 miles long and winds its way through two counties. Notice the upper running of the water, too (barely visible).  Compare it to the way it usually is - completely dry - with  this photo from the same 550 foot long bridge taken last October .  It's the most awesome rushing water I've ever seen in this river!

Enlarge photo.

The monsoon season here in Tucson is a welcome relief from the monotonous dry days that bring endless sunny skies. Depending on where you come from, I would imagine sunny, blue skies that go on forever is a good thing.  Yes, the month of June here in the Sonoran southwest can drag on with its intense heat and dryness that seems to suck the life out of everything.  

 The season usually begins around July 4th and lasts until mid September.  When the rains do come, it is amazing how quickly plants leaf out and become green.  All the senses are affected by a monsoon.  The sound of cracking thunder, the brilliant sight of lightening, the pungent scent of desert plants coming back to life, even the feeling in the air.

Monsoon rains have always played an important role in shaping the ecology of the Sonoran desert. For the early inhabitants of the area, they had a way of dictating the rhythm of life and with their predictability helped native inhabitants to know when to plant essential crops.

Every year, during Arizona's summer Monsoon thunderstorms, dozens of drivers attempt to cross flooded washes* and roads.  They become stranded in the rushing waters and need to be rescued by emergency personnel at great cost to local governments.  This annual occurrence prompted the creation of what is commonly referred to as the "Stupid Motorist Law."

It allows local governments to prosecute people who knowingly enter a public street, highway or wash that is temporarily covered by water and/or is barricaded due to flooding and must get their vehicle towed or need to be personally rescued. They can be fined up to $5000.


*The dry bed of a stream or culvert, either natural or man-made, that flows only after heavy rains, often found at the bottom of a canyon.