Wow! Thanks, Cheryl!

Er... isn't a desert sort of defined by drought? Rain would be the rare exception, weather-wise? Roberta in D

"Carolyn McCarty" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@news.supernews.com...

Actually, as I understand the situation, the Sonoran Desert got about 12 inches of rain a year, normally. It's not sand dunes, like the Sahara, but is a sort of "green" desert with plants and animals that survive on minimal moisture. Of that 12 inches of rain, we should get at least half during the monsoon season, July 1st through September 15th, but for the whole time I've been here we've been lucky to get two or three inches during the monsoon and only a sparse couple of inches the rest of the year. That's the main reason there have been so many wildfires in recent years. And the lack of any rains in November-December means a very meager spring bloom. Years ago people would make a drive to Picacho Peak in the spring, just to see the glowing fields of poppies, but no longer.

So the extra rain Cheryl sent our way was deeply appreciated!

We didn't get a single drop! And, yes, the drought is pretty awful, since we don't get much rain in the first place. We rely on those summer monsoons and the occasional winter rain (not to mention the snowpack in the Rockies) for what little water we do get, and it's just not happening.

You're right, Carolyn. I remember growing up in Tucson when parts of every summer afternoon from July on were an awe-inspiring display of lightning and thunder as we hung around indoors to shelter from the pelting rain. Lately, that isn't happening -- in fact, we've had rain (barely -- sometimes not even worth mentioning) only a half dozen times in the past year or so.

Rain a pretty scarce thing here on the edge of the mojave. I was talking to my dad the other day (he's down in OC) and he says this is the driest year since he came to CA 60 years ago. That is a long time. We get a summer storm here in August sometimes. They are rare but a real treat. Glad folks down under getting some of that much needed rain. What a treat it is when you need it so bad. It will no doubt be a bad fire year in a lot of areas. Taria

Sandy wrote:

I clearly need to come to LV more often, as it rains every time I'm there! :)

(FWIW, I also cause dry weather on Vancouver Island.)

Had to smile at this, Kathy. I have been known, several times, to have broken a long-term drought simply by going on holiday to the place in question! 'People' are advised not to go on holiday at the same time as me, if they are going anywhere near the same place!

Mind you, the same thing happens to HM The Queen - she gets terrible weather, very often! So, I'm in good company. . In message , Kathy Applebaum writes

Here in Ventura County on the Calif coast, the year to date is 5.51 inches [4th driest], tieing it with 1947-1948. Normal is 14.71". Driest year on record was 1876-1877 with 4.62". In Rain year 2004-2005 we had 35.93" of rain.

My roses get coffee grounds once a week from me, and watering by hand

2-3 times a week. We have June gloom (overcast) now, so it is starting early; not so good for the roses.

Last Sunday it drizzled all afternoon, bringing in .25" of welcomed moisture.

G> We got some rain today--a real gully-washer around 1:00. Thanks for the

You're welcome anytime, Kathy! I really enjoyed meeting both you and your DH. :D

Okay, Pat, when are you coming to visit?

Glad you got the rain, Carolyn. We had a dust storm that we drove through on the way home from a big guild function. (I didn't drive, went with a couple other people from my chapter.) This is a bad drought, and is stretching past 12 years, I think. And it looks like our unseasonably cool weather is almost over. darn. We are thinking we may have to turn on the AC finally.

Pati, > We got some rain today--a real gully-washer around 1:00. Thanks for the

True, Roberta, but the lack of rain is more lack than is usual. The lakes, formed by dams of some of the rivers, are much lower than they should be. Lower than I think they have been since the dams went up. And, actually precipitation is not the main determiner of a drought if I remember correctly. (It's been a long time, but -- I think that tundra is a type of desert. And a lot of tundra has snow a good portion of the year. )

It is dryer than normal, and has been for several years in a row. Even saw a brush fire yesterday on the way down from Wickenburg.

Pati, > Er... isn't a desert sort of defined by drought? Rain would be the rare

Smile! Or perhaps you could invite the Queen? . In message , Sandy writes

Well, one must set one's priorities, mustn't one!

Indeed, one must >g<

In message , CATS writes