Monsoon Arrives Today

Today is not only Father’s Day, it marks the beginning of the North American Monsoon in Arizona.

The weather pattern that began today will continue until Sept. 30, and can cause a lot of problems during its stay. Some Lake Havasu City locals are also aware of the “Havadome” that often protects the area from the effects of monsoon.

For the past week, the Las Vegas National Weather Service has featured “Monsoon Awareness Week” to ready Southwestern residents of the dangers the season could bring.

Lightning strikes near I-40 during a Monsoon storm in 2015. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

The goal of Awareness Week is to reduce the number of deaths, injuries and property damage caused by weather-related dangers that occur during the monsoon. Through education about proper precautionary actions to be taken, lives can be saved and property losses can be minimized.

Monsoon is a period of extreme heat and is typically ongoing at its onset, which in the coming days or weeks is followed by an influx of moisture leading to daily rounds of thunderstorms, according to the NWS website.

The heat is deadly in its own right, causing more deaths than any other weather hazard in the region each year. In addition, thunderstorms present an array of hazards which often strike suddenly and with violent force.

Dust Storms graphic courtesy Las Vegas National Weather Service.

Lightning strikes, high winds, dust storms, wildfires, tornadoes, flash flooding and extreme heat cause numerous deaths and injuries along with tens of millions of dollars of damage each year (see www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/).

Road closures, as well as power and communication outages are additional consequences of monsoon weather hazards.

For more information about the monsoon season in the Lake Havasu City area, visit https://www.weather.gov.