Monsoons are only heavy rains that happen in the Amazon or places with very large trees and lots of humidity. At least this is what I believed until I moved to the high desert. According to the dictionary monsoon is: the seasonal wind of the Indian Ocean and southern Asia, blowing from the southwest in summer and from the northeast in winter.
2.(in India and nearby lands) the season during which the southwest monsoon blows, commonly marked by heavy rains; rainy season.
3.any wind that changes directions with the seasons.
4.any persistent wind established between water and adjoining land.
HUH? What about the movies that depict the heavy downpour of rain? What about folks who welcome "monsoons for the rain it brings the desert". And then this info came my way:
Word Origin & History
monsoon
"trade wind of the Indian Ocean," 1584, from Du. monssoen, from Port. monçao, from Ar. mawsim "appropriate season" (for a voyage, pilgrimage, etc.), from wasama "he marked." When it blows from the southwest (April through October) it brings heavy rain, hence "the rainy season" (1747).
Ok, so now I am clear... heavy winds from the Southwest starting with a body of water then down pour on the adjoining land.
Hence, Lots of wind and heavy rain dumping on the desert lands of Arizona, July through August! Some people love the rain, some people carry prejudice about the rain. They don't like the inconvenience that it brings to their "perfect" weather and lifestyle. Like it makes hair frizzy. You don't have an umbrella because it never rains here and then you get soaked and have to go to work. You have to get your windshield wipers changed yearly (because they melt in the hot sun) and you might have to use them because you can not see the road in front of you if you don't replace them. You may win the "wet T-shirt contest" without even trying to enter it and you are 80 years old! They shut the pools down for the 20 minutes it rains at a time because of lightning and thunder.
All in all the rain is exhilarating! It helps the plants grow! It is the giver of life. The strong winds blow away the stale thoughts and unnecessary things in the desert. It helps the seeds propagate.
Good or Bad, it's all the same... The monsoon season is here in Northern Arizona and I am running barefoot in the rain!
