Drought In The Southwest

#1 11-13-2007, 04:05 AM

I was wondering how the drought in the southwest can really be improved? A strong rainy season? Also I don't know if I've asked before but how can you really have a drought in a desert?

Kevin Martin · #2 11-13-2007, 06:59 AM

I second that Dustin, LOL. You make a valid, EXCELLENT POINT. The Desert SW drought sounds like an oxymoron huh. lol.

aslkahuna · #3 11-14-2007, 12:43 AM

Actually, it's not an oxymoron since not all of the Southwest is desert. Sierra Vista for example gets 15 inches of rain per year making it a savannah grassland climate. Then there are the mountains where the meltwater from the winter snowpack being a crucial part of the water supply. In addition, the Sonoran Desert is a "wet" desert being desert barely in terms of average rainfall. The Mojave is the dry deert as is the High Desert of the Great Basin. As for relief, with current state of the ENSO-no way. Except for the Summer monsoon.

Steve

#4 11-14-2007, 01:43 AM

Steve, I thought La nina was good for the southwest? Or the west in general or is that just the NW?

thedude · #5 11-14-2007, 01:59 AM

Supposedly, La Ninas mean wetter than average weather for the PNW and drier than average conditions further south. October Precipitation here in Portland was slightly above average but not really anything unusual (avg. is 3.39 in, 5.04 in fell). November is below average for precipitation so far. There are some more systems coming in for the next few days so that should help balance things out.

So far I've not seen any reason to call this fall/winter season a la nina season, based off the weather that has happened up to this point, in the PNW at least.

picassoscat · #6 11-15-2007, 12:46 AM

I have alot of family in Tucson. They get a good amount of rain in the monsoon season and you've never smelled anything so sweet as the desert in the spring when it blooms.

Actually, in Tucson there are 7 distinct climates as you climb up Mount Lemon. Beautiful place climatewise.

Frozen_Signal · #7 11-15-2007, 04:23 AM

where 120 only feels like 110 too..... :D

aslkahuna · #8 11-26-2007, 02:03 AM

Actually, 120F feels like 120F no matter how you cut it. Besides, during the monsoon, dry heat is a misnomer. Tucson has never hit 120F their record is 117F. Mt. Lemmon is also home to the southernmost ski resort in the lower 48.

Steve

#9 11-26-2007, 04:35 PM

Yea dry heat doesn't change it to much, it's just hot. I know from last summer.

Frozen_Signal · #10 11-27-2007, 12:31 PM

well i was close on the record...i must have looked @ the wrong city....

and youre right...its feels the same....being in W texas before and walking about a half mile to get to a store it was hot but it did feel a little cooler...but then again that could have just been the sweat evaporating as well...the desert isnt for everyone...and im one of em...