It’s currently monsoon season in Arizona and I love it so much! Finally the dust settles from all the rain, the smell of the creosote lifts into the air, and the hot temps lower a bit. As wonderful as it is to feel the rain falling onto your skin, I’ve also been caught in rain/hail the last few times I’ve tried to go on a hike, which can be a little nerve-wrecking when you know how serious a monsoon storm can become. A nice steady downpour can quickly turn into thunderstorms and flash floods. It’s a little more stressful to me now that I’m up north where lightning is more common too! If you’d like to still get in some fresh air during monsoon season like me, then here are a few tips to keep in mind.
Stay Updated on the Forecast: This one seems pretty obvious! Yet, there have been times where the forecast is clear and the sky looks sunny, so I head out only to get caught in a hailstorm. Rather than just check the forecast before you leave, bring a radio or your smart phone with you so can tune into your local weather and keep updated along your adventure. On my phone I’ve installed the Weather Channel app! There are other similar apps you can choose from, but this one is free, which is a perk to me. The Weather Channel app has a radar map to keep you updated on where storms are moving and real time alerts to notify you of any weather warnings. I even received an alert right now as I’m writing this, warning me of a severe thunderstorm! The notification includes how long the storm will last, how far away it is, which direction and how fast it’s moving, campgrounds and highways that are in it’s way, and what exactly makes this storm hazardous. If I were planning a hike out in that area or already out there, then I would know to make different plans or turn around to head home before the storm reached me. These alerts are a lot more reliable than the ones already built into my phone (which rarely ever pop up) and help me make decisions on where is and isn’t safe to be. They’re also the same alerts you’d hear on the radio, so if you don’t have a smart phone (I didn’t have one until a couple years ago, so I understand) grab a radio and tune into the weather station. Now, you’ll be able to make informed decisions through out the day as the weather changes!
Get Started Early: My dad and I were talking a few weeks ago when I noted that the storms only came about in the afternoon. I’d wake up in the morning to beautiful southwest skies, full of fluffy white clouds with bright, blue patches peaking through. Then by the time the afternoon rolled around, a mass of dark gray clouds had as well. My dad told me that’s usually how monsoon season goes. I truly thought I had made this wonderful observation, but turns out it’s rather common knowledge. I might have been a little disappointed to know I’m not as modern with my observations as I’d hope, yet I was excited to know there’s a real opportunity to get out before the monsoons start! Rather than wait until the afternoon or evening to hike, get started in the morning when the skies are clearer. The weather is probably a little cooler anyways!
Keep Level: Lightning makes higher elevation and exposed tops a risk and on the other end, flash floods make canyons a risk. If there’s a storm in the forecast it’s a good idea to keep your hikes on level ground, without too much of a change in elevation. Stay off peaks or ridges and stay out of washes, canyons, and large bodies of water! Monsoon season does make many risky hikes enticing since washes and creeks start to fill with running water, even creating some waterfalls, making this advice hard to take at times. Yet, you really have to know when to go and when to take a “rain check” (too much?) for your hike. Rains during monsoon season can be heavy and create a lot of run off, which quickly turns into rapid flooding. Sometimes these floods happen in a matter of minutes, so it’s best to practice caution when you want to hike low-laying area if rain is in the forecast.
Listen for Thunder: Rain isn’t really the issue for me during a monsoon, especially since I avoid flash flood areas. Lightning is the part I’m really worried about. I know we all count the seconds between the moment we see lightning and the moment we hear thunder. It’s a comforting thought that we could know how far away the strike is and confirm that we’re relatively safe. However, lightning can strike up to 10 miles from the center of a storm. So, if you can hear thunder, then you’re considered close enough to be struck by lightning. If you’re out hiking and you hear thunder it’s best to head back indoors as soon as possible.
Change Your Plans: The best mindset to have when it comes to enjoying the outdoors during monsoon season is a flexible one! Don’t be afraid to change your plans or postpone them to another day if there’s a monsoon storm in your forecast. It can be disappointing to miss out a trek you were really looking forward to, but life can be unpredictable and it’s good to learn to adapt. You’ll have more fun with that kind of willingness anyways! Everything indoors seems to get a little more fun in the rain too, so I’m sure you can think of something new to do. My mom use to let us bake brownies when it rained (it is pretty rare when you grow up in Phoenix!) after she read us “Thunder Cake” by Patricia Polacco. So, I think it’s really fun to bake during stormy weather!
Is there an activity you like to do when monsoon season deters your plans? Share them with me for some inspiration!
