Rain from tropical storm begins falling on Arizona

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By TERRY TANG and BRIAN SKOLOFF

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — People lined up in bumper-to-bumper traffic and scooped sand into trash and canvas tote bags Wednesday as rain from a weakened Pacific storm began to fall on Arizona.

It's the second blast of hurricane-related weather to hit the desert region in the past two weeks — the result of an especially active Pacific storm season. Odile was once a Category 3 Hurricane, but was downgraded to a tropical depression by the time rain started falling in Arizona.

The Tucson and Phoenix areas received lesser-than-expected precipitation Wednesday, and no rain was falling in either location by mid-afternoon. But the forecast still calls for more precipitation to arrive in the next day, with up to 5 inches of rain predicted for Tucson.

"Don't be lulled into thinking just because we didn't get rain right now, that it's not coming," said John Brost, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Tucson. "It's still heading this way, it's just still south of the border."

FULL story at link.



Mesa residents, reflected in a truck window, take free sandbags to protect their homes, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014 in Mesa, Ariz. Phoenix area residents are filling sandbags in anticipation for the remnants of Category 3 Hurricane Odille which decimated Mexico's Baja California. (AP Photo/Matt York)


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20140917/us--tropical_weather-arizona-3e06e3f446.html

[Warpy]

1. We've got an 80% chance of rain tomorrow

in northern NM. I don't think I've ever seen that high a chance.

I made up a pan of enchiladas tonight to stuff into the oven tomorrow. It should be dank and chilly.

We need the moisture but getting it all at once does little good, although it will raise the level in the Elephant Butte reservoir for farmers downstream. Most of it will just be runoff.

The last time a hurricane rained itself out over us I saw a garden shed going down one of the arroyos.

[C Moon]

5. Wasn't New Mexico going through a horrid drought for some time?

If so, I'm glad to hear it, even though I know this is not the best way to get rain.

[Warpy]

10. We still are and still will be after this thing mushes on through

We have something called caliche (translation: bring out either dynamite or a back hoe to penetrate it) between 4 inches and 2 feet down and the rainfall just doesn't penetrate any farther. Most of this rain will run into the Rio Grande. The marina people around Elephant Butte Reservoir (the only sizable body of water in the state) won't see much effect, they've closed up since Labor Day and most of the water will evaporate by next spring.

It will be very odd to see the Rio Grande looking less like a muddy creek and more like a river. It won't last long and most of it will be in the Gulf of Mexico next week.

[Politicalboi]

2. Send it to Ca

We need it so bad.

[C Moon]

6. I know. I was hoping for El Niño this year. Looks like the rain is going to move north and south.

[ChazII]

3. It poured

from noon to 1 p.m. and then a light rain until 3 p.m. It is good to have a bit of drying out before the next round hits.

[asiliveandbreathe]

4. For the second time in as many weeks

a river ran through it. We live 90 miles north of Tucson in Mesa, it came in like waves on a beach as the rain fell all morning today, Wednesday - the erosion was not as severe as last week - but, you have to understand why this is BIG news in AZ - we have not seen rain for at least 8 months...at least this time, the golf course shut off the sprinklers this evening...shaking head...

I am not complaining - we needed this rain - but just sometimes I wonder who is paying attention, considering the fact - a new well had to be drilled into the city aquifer last year to accommodate the watering of the course...so much for reclaimed water...only NOW does everyone want to debate the drought - there is no debate - we are in a drought and this rain will NOT alleviate the damage done over the last ten years..AZ Water Resource Dept., who approved the drilling, will probably declare we don't have a water shortage....seems head in sand is all they know! Okay - I'm complaining - but not about the rain!

[OffWithTheirHeads]

7. Call me a cynic but so far this seems similar to the threat from ISIL

The media is all
"Batten down the hatches."
"Don't go outside!"
" The bridges will all collapse!"
"Sandbag your house!"
"WERE ALL GONNA DIE!"

So far, all I've gotten in Tucson is a gentile rain that is watering my landscape so I don't have to.

Tomorrow may be different but, so far, like with ISIL, the media has no credibility.

[Brigid]

8. I knew something was up . . .

When I was watching the Weather Channel and saw Jim Cantore in Tucson wearing rain gear.

[Thor_MN]

9. Sandbagging in the desert...