Dry Heat

Been quite a while since we've seen any rain here and it looks as though it'll be dry until Monsoon season starting around Mid June, maybe. The monsoons are iffy at best and often only bring winds and dust. Lots of both. They start moving through the East Valley and they usually get some rain out of the deal, but the West Valley only gets the wind and dust storm.

Already in the 90s and flirting with the 100s by the end of the next week, summer is knocking on our door. The snowbirds are pretty much gone, not willing to put up with the summer heat, but many have retired here and are happy to trade shoveling snow for the 100s in the summer time.

It is also fire season. Brush that grew by leaps and bounds during the rainy season (and we had a lot, for here) are now drying out. By June they'll be nice and crispy, so add the wind and some idiot starting an open fire or the stray bolt of lighting during the monsoons and let the fires begin. The winds also help the fire to spread rapidly and make them tough to fight. In the North at the higher altitudes pine borers have killed off or sickened many of the pine trees, so if a fire gets started up there it also spreads rapidly because of all the available fuel and wind. Funny that one of our state senators thinks it would be a good idea to legalize fireworks here in AZ. And people wonder why I say our state legislature is insane.

For me summer means not having to put as much charcoal on the grill to get it hot enough, sunscreen, wide brimmed hats, and spending more time in the air conditioned house. It is usually very pleasant in the early mornings -- that is the time to be outside, and a great time to walk huskies to avoid "hot-paws."