Tag: Rainbow

North American Monsoon–July 2024

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Reflection of developing clouds in Marshall Lake, Arizona.

After an early start to the monsoon in late June, the monsoon went on an extended break. For much of July, high pressure remained to our west resulting in northwest to northeast flow across the region. Consequently, tropical moisture had to take the long route over the eastern Pacific Ocean, across the Pacific Northwest, then southward across the High Plains and Rocky Mountains. By the time it arrived, much of the moisture had been depleted, especially in the lower levels. The resulting storms were generally weak and produced little rain, and even less lightning.

Here is a summary of what I did manage to photograph during that period.

11 July 2024

Weak storms produced little in the way of rain but did result in a nice sunset.

Sunset and reflected sunlight on Lake Mary.
Sunset and reflected sunlight on Lake Mary.
15 July 2024

A few strong storms formed on the north side of the San Francisco Peaks and I positioned myself  at the entry to Wupatki National Monument. There was very little lightning but I did get this photograph that shows the landing point of the bolt. I also got power poles.

Lightning on the north side of the San Francisco Peak showing the landing point of the bolt.
Lightning on the north side of the San Francisco Peak showing the landing point of the bolt.
16 July 2024

Radar indicated some storms south of Mormon Lake–a favorite spot for shooting storms because of its expansive views. This storm produced only a few visible bolts of lightning but I did manage to capture this one–along with the waxing gibbous Moon.

Distant thunderstorm with lightning.
Distant thunderstorm with lightning.
21 July 2024

While taking a short hike to Alfa Fia Tank near Snowbowl and the San Francisco Peaks I was happy to see some convection developing that had nice reflections in the water. Look closely and you will also see the ducks.

Reflection of developing storms in Alfa Fia Tank near Snowbowl in the San Francisco Peaks.
Reflection of developing storms in Alfa Fia Tank near Snowbowl in the San Francisco Peaks.
23 July 2024

I was confident that Grand Canyon would produce good storms with possibilities for lightning and rainbows. It didn’t. The best I could do was shoot this ultra-wide view of the clouds using a 12mm fisheye lens.

Ultra-wide angle view of Grand Canyon from Navajo Point.
Ultra-wide angle view of Grand Canyon from Navajo Point.
24 July 2024

The next day in Sedona was a bit better. Although there was some lightning I managed to miss it all because it was never in the direction that the camera was pointed. Look carefully in the upper left corner of this image and you can just barely see a few filaments of the lightning stroke which occurred to the left of the camera. I should have shot this with a wider field of view. On the other hand, the sunset was pretty good.

Heavy rain falling from a monsoon thunderstorm.
Heavy rain falling from a monsoon thunderstorm.
Another great sunset in Sedona, Arizona.
Another great sunset in Sedona, Arizona.
Sunset in Sedona.
Sunset in Sedona.
26 July 2024

A few days later I tried something different and concentrated on getting the very early stages of convective development over the San Francisco Peaks. A bonus was catching the reflections of the clouds in Marshall Lake. By the time I left there was lightning and I was able to capture a few bolts.

Reflection of developing clouds in Marshall Lake, Arizona.
Reflection of developing clouds in Marshall Lake, Arizona.
Reflection of developing clouds in Marshall Lake, Arizona.
Reflection of developing clouds in Marshall Lake, Arizona.
Lightning over Marshall Lake with the San Francisco Peaks in the distance.
Lightning over Marshall Lake with the San Francisco Peaks in the distance.

Time-lapse of convection developing over the San Francisco Peaks (200x speed).

While shooting these still images I had another camera capturing time-lapse video. It’s always fun to see the development of clouds in time lapse.

26 July 2024

This was a last-minute decision as the radar showed storms developing west of Flagstaff. I drove to Mormon Lake hoping for sunsets, rainbows, and lightning. Two out of three isn’t bad.

Sunset colors on thunderstorms and anvil clouds.
Sunset colors on thunderstorms and anvil clouds.
Lightning west of the San Francisco Peaks.
Lightning west of the San Francisco Peaks.
In-cloud lightning in the anvil of a thunderstorm.
In-cloud lightning in the anvil of a thunderstorm.
Lightning from a distant storm located over Grand Canyon. Wish I had been at the Canyon.
Lightning from a distant storm located over Grand Canyon. Wish I had been at the Canyon.
Radar screen capture showing location of storm relative to my position.
Radar screen capture showing location of storm relative to my position.

This storm was located over Grand Canyon and was producing lightning bolts into the canyon. I wish I had been there instead.

How hot was July, anyway?

July 2024 was the second hottest July on record. Only July 2023 was hotter.

Number of days with the maximum temperature >=90°F in Flagstaff. 2024 was the second hottest July; only 2023 was hotter.
Number of days with the maximum temperature >=90°F in Flagstaff. 2024 was the second hottest July; only 2023 was hotter.
Mean monthly temperature for July. 2024 was the second hottest July on record; only 2023 was hotter.
Mean monthly temperature for July. 2024 was the second hottest July on record; only 2023 was hotter.
July total rainfall from the Flagstaff raingauge network.
July total rainfall from the Flagstaff raingauge network.

Total rainfall for the month was below average but not anywhere near record territory. Thank goodness for that!

An Early but Brief Start of the Monsoon

The North American Monsoon got an early start in northern Arizona this year with copious amounts of precipitation over the San Francisco Peaks and surrounding areas. Unfortunately, we are now experiencing an extended monsoon break with mostly clear skies and hot temperatures.

Here are some photograph taken during that wet period.

A partial rainbow over Upper Lake Mary near Flagstaff, Arizona.
A partial rainbow over Upper Lake Mary near Flagstaff, Arizona.
The rainbow is gone but sunset colors are seen in the clouds and the reflection in the lake.
The rainbow is gone but sunset colors are seen in the clouds and the reflection in the lake.
A partial rainbow over the grasslands of Wupatki National Monument.
A partial rainbow over the grasslands of Wupatki National Monument.
A zoomed-in segment of the rainbow showing supernumary bows.
A zoomed-in segment of the rainbow showing supernumary bows.
Sunset at Wukoki Pueblo in Wupatki National Monument.
Sunset at Wukoki Pueblo in Wupatki National Monument.

Here are the June rainfall totals from the Flagstaff rain gauge network.

June rainfall totals for the Flagstaff raingage network.
June rainfall totals for the Flagstaff raingage network.

Monsoon–July 2023

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A double rainbow arches above Wukoki Pueblo in Wupatki National Monument.
A double rainbow arches above Wukoki Pueblo in Wupatki National Monument.

The North American Monsoon (NAM) has been slow to get started this year. A general rule of thumb is it gets going around the 4th of July and is considered late (but still normal) by mid-July. Likewise an early start can occur as early as mid June–as it did last year.

Composite image of late afternoon lightning strikes over the grasslands of Wupatki National Monument.
Composite image of late afternoon lightning strikes over the grasslands of Wupatki National Monument.
A segment of a rainbow over Wukoki Pueblo in Wupatki National Monument.
A segment of a rainbow over Wukoki Pueblo in Wupatki National Monument.
Several lightning clusters that occurred during twilight at Wupatki National Monument.
Several lightning clusters that occurred during twilight at Wupatki National Monument.

During the month of July the GFS weather forecast model consistently showed the NAM getting started “Real Soon Now.” But the target was always several days away. Finally, late in the month the rains arrived as an inverted trough (IVT; def. 2) moved across Arizona.

Lightning over the San Francisco Peaks with Marshall Lake in the foreground.
Lightning over the San Francisco Peaks with Marshall Lake in the foreground.
Lightning touches down deep in Grand Canyon.
Lightning touches down deep in Grand Canyon.

There have been some photogenic storms. A little over a week ago I traveled to the South Rim of Grand Canyon hoping to get some lightning. Although there were some flashes they were far away. On the other hand, the sunset was pretty good. A band of clouds just above the horizon effectively blocked the Sun at my location while beams of light were getting under the clouds and into the canyon farther to the west. The alternating beams of light and shadow were pretty nice.

Beams of light and shadow filter deep into Grand Canyon.
Beams of light and shadow filter deep into Grand Canyon.
Beams of light and shadow filter deep into Grand Canyon.
Beams of light and shadow filter deep into Grand Canyon.

The following day I went to Wupatki National Monument in hopes of lightning and rainbows. There was a late afternoon storm that moved towards the Monument and produced a lot of lightning. As it got closer it weakened but was still dropping rain and a short time later a beautiful, full double rainbow appeared. All I needed to do was position myself so that I could get the rainbow arch to frame Wukoki Pueblo.

Time lapse of convection developing over the San Francisco Peaks with Marshall Lake in the foreground.

A new storm formed to my southeast as twilight came on and began to produce a lot of lightning. This was the 3rd act of the day and it was a good one.

Later in the week I took a short drive to Marshall Lake near Flagstaff to time lapse the early stages of convection over the San Francisco Peaks–and with some reflections in the waters of the lake. A few lightning bolts landed near the peaks adding to the show.

A few more trips to Grand Canyon rounded out the month.

And, now, the monsoon is on hiatus again.

Sunrise, Sunset, Rainbows, and Fog

The North American Monsoon continues to bring convective activity to much of northern Arizona on a daily basis. There have been plenty of opportunities for colorful sunrises and sunsets as well as rainbows and even some fog.

Light rain showers are illuminated by the rising sun over Anderson Mesa.
Light rain showers are illuminated by the rising sun over Anderson Mesa.
A partial rainbow appears right after sunrise over Mormon Mountain.
A partial rainbow appears right after sunrise over Mormon Mountain.
Early morning light on Upper Lake Mary.
Early morning light on Upper Lake Mary.
Sunset colors illuminate a thunderstorm near Twin Arrows.
Sunset colors illuminate a thunderstorm near Twin Arrows.
The setting sun briefly illuminates heavy rain falling on the San Francisco Peaks.
The setting sun briefly illuminates heavy rain falling on the San Francisco Peaks.
Light rain from a dissipating thunderstorm is illuminated by the setting sun.
Light rain from a dissipating thunderstorm is illuminated by the setting sun.
The almost daily rainfall has resulted in many opportunities for morning fog.
The almost daily rainfall has resulted in many opportunities for morning fog.

The rainy season should continue for at least a few more weeks so there should be additional opportunities for colorful photographs.

Lightning and Rainbows

Twilight lightning over Kendrick Park. The north flanks of Kendrick Peak are illuminated by the bolt.

We are in the midst of the “Transition Season” where the summer monsoon pattern fades away and the mid-latitude westerlies and low pressure systems move across the area. Another of these events is in progress as a weak closed-low moves across the southwest bringing showers and thunderstorms to the area.

Thunderstorms begin to develop over the San Francisco Peaks.
Thunderstorms begin to develop over the San Francisco Peaks.

Saturday afternoon we set out for the north side of the San Francisco Peaks hoping that thunderstorms would form over the higher terrain and then move northwestward across Kendrick Park. A few storms did form over the peaks and some of them were briefly photogenic but there was very little in the way of lightning. Eventually, approaching rain chased us from Kendrick Park to the northwest where we set up near Slate Mountain in a large meadow with good views of the peaks.

Distant lightning under the rainbow.
Distant lightning under the rainbow.
A multi-pronged lightning strike under the rainbow.
A multi-pronged lightning strike under the rainbow.
Twilight lightning over Kendrick Park.
Twilight lightning over Kendrick Park.
Twilight lightning over Kendrick Park. The north flanks of Kendrick Peak are illuminated by the bolt.
Twilight lightning over Kendrick Park. The north flanks of Kendrick Peak are illuminated by the bolt.
Twilight lightning over Kendrick Park. The north flanks of Kendrick Peak are illuminated by the bolt.
Twilight lightning over Kendrick Park. The north flanks of Kendrick Peak are illuminated by the bolt.

These slow-moving storms continued to move towards the northwest and this time we got lightning and rainbows—and rainbows with lightning. As the sun dropped lower in the west the rainbow quickly faded and rain was again approaching our location. We retreated back to Kendrick Park—this time with the thunderstorms located to our northwest with light from the setting sun still illuminating some clouds. Lightning stikes were frequent and close enough to fill the field of view of the 17-mm focal length lens. Several of these lightning bolts struck the northern flanks of Kendrick Peak. About a half-hour after sunset it was over and the storms quickly dissipated.

Another fun day of storms and lightning.

250-mb height/winds at 0000 UTC 26 September 2021.
250-mb height/winds at 0000 UTC 26 September 2021.
24-hour lightning plot with a lightning cluster near the San Francisco Peaks.
24-hour lightning plot with a lightning cluster near the San Francisco Peaks.