southwest

Invasion of Tropical Air Could Trigger Dangerous Flash Flooding in the Southwest This Week

Dennis Mersereau · 09/21/15 02:19PM

The decaying remnants of a tropical depression will move through the desert southwest over the next couple of days, dragging with it enough tropical air that residents might think they woke up in southern Florida. This excess moisture will lead to very heavy rain that could easily produce flash flooding in vulnerable areas.

Rain Between Bouts of Hell: Southwestern Monsoon Season Is Here

Dennis Mersereau · 07/15/15 05:15PM

Today is the halfway point in July; we’re firmly in summer’s grip with just as much of the season behind us as we’ve got in front of us. It’s a lonely, miserable time of the year for us heat haters, but for folks in the southwestern United States, it marks the glorious time of year when monsoon season ramps up.

Tired, Weakened Hurricane Blanca Heading to Cabo to Chill This Weekend

Dennis Mersereau · 06/05/15 03:56PM

Hurricane Blanca (Blanca, not Bianca, much to the chagrin of drag fans the world over) is still hanging on over the eastern Pacific Ocean as it slowly makes its way towards the Baja Peninsula. The storm will make for a crappy weekend in Cabo—sorry about that—but it shouldn’t be too bad, as long as you’re not in the water.

Hurricane Blanca May or May Not Drench the Southwestern U.S. Next Week

Dennis Mersereau · 06/03/15 03:29PM

Hurricane Blanca is only the second named storm in the three-week-old Pacific Hurricane Season, but it’s already the second category four hurricane to form there in the past two days. The storm will slowly move towards the Baja Peninsula this weekend, after which it might or might not drench the American Southwest.

Fickle October Brings Southwest Flooding, Twisters in Tenn. Valley

Dennis Mersereau · 10/06/14 12:43PM

Oh, October, you are a fickle month. After a beautiful weekend across much of the eastern two-thirds of the country, this week brings the wet remnants of a hurricane into the southwest and the risk of tornadoes to the Tennessee Valley this afternoon.

Las Vegas at Risk for Tornadoes and Severe Storms This Afternoon

Dennis Mersereau · 09/26/14 01:45PM

Well, here's something you don't see too often. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a slight risk for severe weather across parts of the desert southwest—including Las Vegas and surroundings—for the chance of tornadoes, 60+ MPH wind gusts, and hail larger than quarters.

Explaining This Week's Geeky Buzzword: "Precipitable Water"

Dennis Mersereau · 09/08/14 11:27AM

Going from drought to deluge, the southwestern United States is being inundated by flooding rainfall yet again today. One of the terms meteorologists are batting around to describe this record-setting pool of atmospheric moisture has people confused, but it's actually pretty easy to understand.

Death Valley Will Reach 101° Today But Winter Isn't Dead Yet

Dennis Mersereau · 04/09/14 10:00AM

A strong ridge of high pressure is starting to bake the southwestern United States right on schedule for this time of year — with several areas expected to reach the triple digits today — but winter isn't done with the rest of the country yet.