Book 16, Question 112
Why Do Desert Rains Come in Short, Heavy Storms?
Desert rains come in short, heavy storms because the hot ground makes warm air rise fast! The rising air cools, and a storm cloud forms quickly. Then it dumps its rain in a small area, and the sky clears.
More fun facts
- In Arizona, the monsoon season runs from June 15 to September 30.
- A monsoon is a season, not a single storm.
- Summer winds bring moist air from places like the Gulf of California into the hot desert.
- Strong heating of the ground makes warm, moist air rise and build tall thunderstorm clouds.
- A single Arizona thunderstorm cell usually lasts less than an hour.
- Flash floods can hit places many miles away from the storm, as rain runs into desert valleys.
- Some monsoon storms also stir up huge walls of dust called haboobs.
Sources: National Weather Service, ASU
Questions kids ask
Why are desert washes dangerous during storms?
Rain from a storm far away can rush down a dry wash as a flash flood with little warning.