Climate

This is a rare photo of the BNSF Railroad Bridge spanning the Hassayampa River seven miles south of Wickenburg where there is water flowing above ground in the riverbed and going under the stately bridge. Verna took this photo from US 60 on Wednesday while we were on our way to do some shopping in the northwest metro valley.

We have had a considerable amount of rainfall over the last week, with thundershowers in the mountains and below producing enough precipitation to flow down from the headwaters of the river in the mountains northeast of town. Today, the showers have subsided and the forecast is for partly cloudy and mostly sunny weather until the next unseasonable thunderstorms hit, maybe as a consequence of hurricane Patricia, now situated in the eastern Pacific off the coast of Mexico.

Meanwhile, it looks like good weather to prevail for tomorrow and the weekend.

Summertime brings some lovely sunset images, just as the other seasons around here. This set of clouds under the half moon, rose to produce a narrow shaft of intense showers to the south of us last night. Click on the image to enlarge.

I took this photo from the bridge on US 60 westbound across the now dry Hassayampa River which has been flowing wet a couple of times this summer. This is the confluence of Sols Wash, in from the left, and the main river flowing down from the upper right side.

The river rose above its banks on July 18, 2015 in what is now known as The Wickenburg Storm Event. The Flood Control District of Maricopa County classified the storm as a millennium event, or happening once in a thousand years.

We were on the way back from delivering our trailer to the dealer who is going to make some repairs so it will be available for our California and Nevada vacation next month. We also will use the trailer as a “guest room” when some of our family visits us late next month.

The monsoon season reliably brings the cloudiness that often results in spectacular sunsets. Tonight was no exception when the setting sun played its magic on the bases of the clouds.

The weather is forecast to clear overnight with an excessive heat warning over the next few days. We’re ready for it, though, since no outside work is planned.