HikeArizona.COM

The endless chatter of weather.

At the rate things are cooling off out there, I may need some warmer clothes for the Royal Arch trek first of next month!!

It was a bit chilly here last night, but the 37 that was predicted likely did not occur. I doubt it got under 40, in fact.

I'll be camping at the South Rim this weekend, honestly looking forward to the low 40s / upper 30s at night, makes for wonderful . Mid to upper 70s in the daytime isn't going to be hard to take either.

Just spent a bundle overhauling my mountain bike. Now I have 3 weeks to get ready for Tour of the White Mtns. Weather is PERFECT for mtn. biking, and there is a weekend in front of me...

A few more yellow leaves high up on Elden. I think about a week from now see the start of the real color this year.

Ok, scratch what I said before. I went mtn. biking yesterday (see G&F Grasslands) and had a blast. Saw lots of wildlife, etc. Everyone comes to the White Mtns. to see the pines. I live here, and love the grasslands--and fall is the best time of year in the grasslands. I am going out there again today, but to a different part of it.

Am I the only one who thinks this weather is fantastic? Maybe it isn't in the urban areas down low, as it was pretty hot in Sedona yesterday even though it was still comfortable, but it is just perfect around Flag. The forecast for the next week is a carbon copy each day: low 40s for lows, high 70s for highs, sunny with light winds. Utopian weather realized. I'll hike back up Elden tomorrow to check on the color if any. After last weeks cold snap and these dry conditions there may be some up there. With perfect days like this, who really cares about autumn color, right?

I think it's great, six months of pure heaven is right around the corner

It was 80 here today, just gorgeous. I went mtn. biking. Also enjoyed driving my bus. Of course, all the locals are complaining about how hot it is...go figger. It is partly because they don't dress for it. They wear jeans. Ugh.

It's been nearly 10 degrees above normal for days now, nearly a week. This is just great. Maybe not down low, but up here it has been a great second helping of summer.

Was great swimming in the Black River yesterday. Probably water temp at 70 or above. No complaints here except I have to work and do school, so can't get out as much as I would like to.

Jim_H wrote:It's been nearly 10 degrees above normal for days now, nearly a week. This is just great.

Unfortunately it's not great for those interested in Autumn Foliage. Hot to freeze equals brown dead leaves without the subtle dieing off phase that is so colorful. Fortunately it will likely only be the upper 7,500 foot stuff (if that pans out). That is mostly Aspens and not my favorites such as maples. Also have the benefit of Arizona's Autumn which spans three months with varying elevations too.

Aspens probably aren't so much effected, oaks are super sensitive and maples can be touchy.

Anyone else seen this? Looks like we might get a nice rain event over the next day or so. It would be nice if we picked up an inch or so, and then it warmed back up as is also forecast.
http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/p120i00.gif

I'll be interested to see what happens. Rain would be awesome.

But those forecast models I love so much don't have a really good handle on storms like this, so I don't think there's really a good idea of what will actually happen.

Call me cynical ;) , but I'd be surprised to see more than 1/2 an inch even in the higher elevations. I hope I'm wrong.

chumley wrote:Call me cynical ;) , but I'd be surprised to see more than 1/2 an inch even in the higher elevations. I hope I'm wrong.

Well, Flagstaff picked up exactly 49/100s of an inch of rain. So less than half of the 1 to 2 inches they were calling for. Still, something was better than nothing given how dry it has been for the last month.
They're calling for low of 32 tonight. It got down to 34 last night in town. My guess is that it rained on Elden and now the cold will get the color going.

My house in Flagstaff, south of the I-40/I-17 interchange got 1.9 inches of rain in the ol' raingauge. The power was out for about an hour at about 6:00 am.

Looking at the Flagstaff NWS records for the last few days, it appears we set record highs of 83 degrees for the last 3 days. I know I enjoyed finally getting out into it today. I was saddened to learn two thing. 1) the average high for Flagstaff for today is only 69 degrees, and 2) we are forecast to be in that area next week with some days only in the high 50s. I guess this will get that color really going, but I would rather have this weather. Thats why I want to live at lower elevation.

It has been in the 80's over here. Great weather. Too bad I have to study all the time. I have a ton of homework because I went to Utah for 5 days, had a blast, hiked, camped, etc. So, now it is time to pay the piper...

Break out your air violins, because I could practically cry a river: the warm, dry, sunny weather I love is coming to an end, and instead we will have cold, rain, and wind for about the next week. After nearly a week of mid 80s, mid 50s is not something to be excited about. I guess it will get the color going, but I'd rather have summer weather like we just had over color and cold. I wish I could have gotten out and really enjoyed the warmth last week like I planned. Unlike you Elizabeth, I had off and was planning on stuff at the Canyon, in town and in Sedona, but instead I was sick most of the time and pretty much did nothing. At least I got Elden in on Thursday. The good news is that Jake should have some color for next weekends HAZ Photo thingy.

I finally got away today, although I have a midterm tomorrow I have been studying for, and went hiking in S. fork, 8 miles r/t, 1500 foot gain, 3.1 mph av. Not too bad for an old school bus driver. Then I came home and wrote another paper for yet another one of my soc classes, and now have to study some more for that midterm.

But I would rather be in back up in Utah or back at Lees Ferry/Vermillion Cliffs right about now, where I was a week ago. Have friends/family in both places, and also it is just so gorgeous up there. Although, this weather you speak of Jim, I am not too happy about that prospect.

Our forecast here is not as drastic, though. In fact, it looks almost like an August monsoon forecast. The lowest predicted high for the week is 69.