Sutherland Height residents rejoice and grouse over drought and road bustin’, super local, 3.36 inch “toad strangler”

“Frog strangler”,  folk expression from the South for extra heavy rains, btw,  which is what we had, except we have toads, not frogs. Here’s what I think happened to produce 3.36 inches on Sutherland Heights.  The winds were from the east at cloud levels.  Cumulus spawned off the Catalinas/Mt Lemmon area, but the wind shear… Continue reading Sutherland Height residents rejoice and grouse over drought and road bustin’, super local, 3.36 inch “toad strangler”

Thunderblasts after midnight awaken sleeping Catalinans with 50 mph winds, graupel, and R++; latest storm total now 1.38 inches!

In case you don’t believe me that over an inch fell, this digital record from Sutherland Heights with writing on it: Probably a little more to come, too.  Got some blow damage, I’m sure.  Will be looking for roof shingles around the yard today. And, as everyone knows from their favorite TEEVEE weatherperson, “New Storm… Continue reading Thunderblasts after midnight awaken sleeping Catalinans with 50 mph winds, graupel, and R++; latest storm total now 1.38 inches!

Sunrise, sunset colors drench Gatalina, AZ; Cal storms reach epic proportions

We’re often confused with the California island, Catalina, and even places in Spain.   Google “Catalina” and see if I am lying again. Oh, maybe that was Catalonia, SP… Nevertheless, isn’t it time to think about a new name for our “Census Designated Place”, Catalina?  In fact, at one time, each Catalina island and our… Continue reading Sunrise, sunset colors drench Gatalina, AZ; Cal storms reach epic proportions

Eruption! CDO ran big last night (updated with golf balls shown in the wash))

This just in Just back from a horsey ride with Zeus the horse.  Rode into the CDO to see the surprising view that it had run bank-to-bank last night after that mighty cell passed by along the foothills.  In the wash, were golf ball-sized golf balls scattered throughout the wash, indicating that it hit the… Continue reading Eruption! CDO ran big last night (updated with golf balls shown in the wash))

Hawaii comes to Arizona from Mexico; 5.91 inches at Dan Saddle! 6.43 inches on Mt. Graham!

Former Hurricane ‘Newt’ brought some real humidity, low clouds with unusually warm bases (around 15-20 ° C) to Tucson and Catalina yesterday as its remnant center passed just about over us. Old Newt was “dragging” here as a tropical storm, aloft it was pretty strong still,  brought near hurricane force winds on isolated, high, mountain… Continue reading Hawaii comes to Arizona from Mexico; 5.91 inches at Dan Saddle! 6.43 inches on Mt. Graham!

“The Magnificent Seven” (minute storm); 0.13 inches!

A reference to yesterday’s seven minutes of mayhem here in Catalina/Sutherland Heights; alludes to but an old 1980s song by the English punk band, The Clash about really bad weathermen: “one says sun, one says sleet1.” Back to weather and yesterday’s microburst with three minutes of sheets of unbelievably heavy rain with rice-sized hail, 50-60… Continue reading “The Magnificent Seven” (minute storm); 0.13 inches!

Yesterday’s clouds; and an April Fool’s Day storm to think about

Kind of a dull day yesterday.  Not much to look at.  Some Altocumulus with an interesting, slotted wave pattern to start was about the only interesting thing in the morning. Then some small Cumulus that continued to agglomerate into masses of dark Stratocumulus, with a little rain to the north of us.  You probably didn’t… Continue reading Yesterday’s clouds; and an April Fool’s Day storm to think about

Phony Cu fractus hint at moderate to severe turbulence aloft; the BS ahead

Immediately, “BS” is for “Big Storm” ahead, not something untoward. OK, first a piece about yesterday’s unusual clouds at Cirrus levels; you wouldn’t want to be flying in, or underneath these: You can also these specks  fly by in the U of AZ time lapse film.  If you look at the film when they do,… Continue reading Phony Cu fractus hint at moderate to severe turbulence aloft; the BS ahead

System vanquishes sun for three days! Produces 2.28 inches in The Heights!

While on the first day, January 29th, the sun was only blocked by mid-level clouds, the rainy ones on January 30th and 31st provided a rain amount to remember here in the Sutherland Heights (and elsewhere–numerous records broken),  2.28 inches recorded over 24 h ending at 7 AM for the past three days,  beginning with… Continue reading System vanquishes sun for three days! Produces 2.28 inches in The Heights!

1.75 inches and counting; 3-7 in SE mountains

What a great wildflower-producing/maintaing storm!  While some, well most,  of the exceptional weather expected, like TSTMs, funnels, hail,  locusts, and afternoon arcus clouds, were not really observed, a lot of rain was.  Here’s your cloud day for our stupendous storm, not yet over, beginning with a how-it-fell chart:           The End,… Continue reading 1.75 inches and counting; 3-7 in SE mountains