HikeArizona.COM

The endless chatter of weather.

Your assessment has angered quite a few Quebeqois. They want no part of Canada!

@Jim_H
There's no need to worry about the Gila...at least if you are up above Silver City. Last time I was there, just a few weeks ago, not only were the middle and west forks flowing anywhere from mid-calf to upper thigh height (in fairness I'm only 5'6), but there were also active snowstorms you could see adding to the accumulation in the higher elevation mountains. Plenty of snow...plenty of water...above Silver City.

Cold this morning!! It got down to at least 32 over night in Alamogordo. This might be shocking, except that the NWS forecast freeze warnings all over the place, well in advance. This cold might be "extreme" for April, despite town finally getting to the mid-80s late last week, but it follows a pattern of a few warm days followed by a cold snap. It just hasn't been this cold, for a while. This year is much, much colder than last year. I don't know how this will affect my annuals, I lost a few a week or so ago, from what I assume was cold related stress. At least the sun is up, and we might make 71 today.

A weak thunderstorm is coming in to town wetting things lightly, and making it smell really nice. Strange, but nice.

April snow brings ...?

Looks like a much needed storm will pass through on Saturday. Forecast rain at lower elevations of .3-.65", with up to 10" of snow above 8k ft. Snow levels dropping to 5k ft on Saturday afternoon.

Northern Arizona seems to be in the sweet spot for this storm, with the southern half of the state just getting brushed. But some snow in the pines right now can't hurt.

Rain in the forecast for here in SoCal. I'm glad it is holding off for a day. I'm going to the Wild Animal Park today, and getting paid for it! Anyway, it is very green here in Valley Center right now. Along the trails all the chaparral plants are blooming. It may be a drought year, but we've had enough rain and fog to keep things fairly moist.

azbackpackr wrote:I'm going to the Wild Animal Park today, and getting paid for it

So am I, its called teaching High School school in W. Phoenix ;)

friendofThundergod wrote: W. Phoenix

That's God's country.

Dave1 wrote:That's God's country.

You said it wrong.

It's "That there's God's country." Don't forget to say it with the proper drawl. ;)

Dave1 wrote:

friendofThundergod wrote: W. Phoenix

That's God's country.

Westside representing...

Now just hoping that the wind is not as bad as they say tomorrow or I will be cleaning off all of the newly plowed fields off my car, driveway and patio.

@SpiderLegs
If you have fields by your house, I think you are a little outside of West Phoenix..lol

unless you are referring to vacant lots of course ;)

Last one Jim I promise, I know I started this off topic conversation..sorry!

friendofThundergod wrote:@SpiderLegs
If you have fields by your house, I think you are a little outside of West Phoenix..lol

unless you are referring to vacant lots of course ;)

Last one Jim I promise, I know I started this off topic conversation..sorry!

I live one mile outside of the Phoenix city limits - where the 'hood meets the farms.

No Glentucky jokes, please. We've gotten a half-inch here in the East Bay. Hopefully Arizona gets a dumping.

Looks like California had some pretty impressive after season totals in the Sierra and even in southern California with the Long Valley webcam on San Jacinto showing several inches of snow, assumed to be heavy wet coastal snow, and the precipitation analysis claiming over 1/2 of an inch of liquid for some mountains down there. Doesn't look like much for most of Arizona, but Flagstaff reports 9/10ths of an inch of liquid. That probably has more significance to vegetation than 2 inches of liquid in late January.

Indications seem to be getting stronger that a powerful El Nino is developing. If it hold and doesn't decay like it did in 2007, it could be a wet winter next year, but if it start to influence weather too early, it could produce a dry summer like 2009.

Yesterday had a light snow at the house in Payson and rain in Gold Canyon.

I'm completely confused about the month. Is it mid-March, or almost May? We have 55 and a stiff north wind with gusts to near 40 MPH, and a forecast high of maybe 68. We were pushing 90 last year, by now. Maybe I fell asleep and wound up back in Flagstaff? Where is the nice weather for hiking? :tt:

Same here in Phoenix, even down to direction of wind. Had to hold my hat to keep it blowing off my head, and a few strong gusts had me wondering if I'd be knocked off my feet ...

Big Wind! It was a rough bike ride this morning. I wonder if Johnlp will get his 50 miles in today, or just be happy with 500 for the month? ;)

I sure hope this isn't early El Nino influence like in 2009, when those freak lake season May-June lows came through and dropped rain and cold temps, which would be good, but then there was a failure of the monsoon that summer, which would be very bad this year with the drought. However, a good strong 2005 type El Nino would certainly be good for next winter.

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/images/abq/Brie ... utlook.pdf
From the ABQ NWS office, but the prediction, which surprised me, is for above normal monsoon precipitation.