I have yet to write about the weather on my blog. It seems like such a lame topic, to be honest, and if you want to read about the weather, there are undoubtedly a million better web sites and blogs to do that. Ok, now that I’ve set up what is sure to be my most forgettable post, I have to comment on the weather this year. It’s been freaking awesome!
In the spring we had a ton of rain. The rain gave way to the best wildflower season I’ve ever seen. The desert was overflowing with an abundance of color. Riding my mountain bike at times I would be nearly knocked off my bike with information overload coming from the explosion of color I saw. It was truly stunning.
Yesterday, in Phoenix, the high temperature was just 100 degrees. Overall, temps in Phoenix year-to-day have been very mild, using my own personal almanac of 22 years in the Valley as a guide. Last year was also pretty mild, but we didn’t have days in May that were in the 70′s, like we have had this year.
Predictions for the week ahead call for temps at or above 110 degrees. That’s the temperature in Phoenix that most people begin to call HOT. With our dry heat, 100 is really quite livable, but 110 is hot by almost any standard, and for me anything above 113 is stifling.
One significant caution needs to be noted, which is the natural bi-product of the rainy season we just had and a potentially hot and dry season ahead: Arizona has the potential for an explosive wildfire season this summer. I snapped this photo in late March of a wildfire in the Buckeye/Goodyear area. As you can see in the foreground, it was green and relatively wet at the time. This particular fire was somewhat easily contained, and didn’t threaten any homes or structures, so it went by with almost no news coverage. If that fire were to be blazing today, it probably wouldn’t be so easy to contain.
All of the grasses, sage brush, and flowers that were alive and blooming in the spring are now dry and highly flammable. For the next 30-60 days, it’s critical that we all do our part to be extra cautious with regard to the possibility of a wild fire. Most notably, 4th of July isn’t far away, and you may not be aware that in Arizona all fireworks are illegal. This includes sparklers, bottle rockets, roman candles, and even firecrackers. It’s not only illegal to use fireworks in Arizona, it’s even illegal to possess fireworks in Arizona.
To help prevent wild fires, Arizona parks and recreation departments sometimes prohibit any outdoor fire, including camp fires. I recall a summer camping trip to Chiricahau National Monument a few years ago where we were met by that disappointing news. During extreme fire danger seasons, Arizona has closed it’s public lands to any use for fear that a smoker might be careless. I don’t know if this summer will get to either of those extremes, but regardless, lets all be careful with any open fire this summer.
On that note, lets all have a safe and fun Father’s Day weekend!
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Steve – Great awareness post! That fire you captured is quite large however small in comparison to what we have seen in the last few years here in Arizona. Thank goodness that one didn’t get out of control. We all need to do our part to protect our land, forest and beautiful desert landscape. Nice forecasting, can you bring the heat down some? Happy Father’s Day my friend!
Thanks Candace. I highly suspect that we had enough rain, late enough in the year, that Arizona forests are going to be safe this year, from a major forest fire problem. But the sonoran desert is always at risk, always fragile. See you on Friday, if not sooner!
Yawn. What was that article about again?
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