Big promise...

 ... but no follow through!
 

We seem to be getting a lot of this: what looks like the promise of some moisture but no follow-through. This is a shot roughly Southwest from our site. The 'threatening' clouds seemed to promise moisture but no joy!

And 'moisture'? A phrase I picked up from relatives who were cattle ranchers in Wyoming. Al Smith insisted they didn't get 'rain', they got 'moisture'. I guess because it came in such limited amounts the term 'rain' overstated the actual results. Maybe. I guess. 

We are plodding our way thru August in expectation of cooler days to come in September. Or at least that's what history tells us to expect. Monsoons are essentially non-existent this year. We get a tiny sprinkle and that's it. This year we had just over 0.5" of rain in July where we would expect about 1.5" in a 'proper' monsoon season. The reason? Neither 'La Niña' nor 'El Niño' currents are expected in the Eastern Pacific this year. That occurs when Pacific coastal currents near the Equator are affected by the subsurface movement of water toward the Mexico & Central America. NOAA has a decent explanation on their web site for those hungry for more info on this exciting subject!

In the mean time we swelter here in SE Arizona. As Michael might say "it's bloody hot!" 

Location: 600 E Saguaro Dr, Benson, AZ 85602, USA

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