South West Monsoon, or whatever they call it.

This is how it has to set up for it to be an actual “Southwest Monsoon,” for the afternoon storms to be call that even when, it feels like it.

Even though this map does not have the sort of detail, over all the pattern with the low pressure over the southwest, and the high on the Gulf states, there you go, a little heating and we storms. “Summer Monsoons.”

This is the seasonal “Monsoon Flow,” I suppose only Colorado style. Though these storms can range all of the way from New Mexico, up to Canada, the pattern is the same. Late afternoon and sometimes lasting until late at night.

All fueled by the moisture from the south. Winter storms are on the northern track.

There are a couple of names for this. The “Mexican Monsoon,” is also along with the “Southwestern Monsoon.” I am sure there are more.

In May and June, we here in Denver often get afternoon storms that mimic what a Monsoon does. However, the spring storms are mostly from the west. Like central and north Pacific storms that pass through California, all of the way up to Canada. In July, all the way through to the seasonal cooling that comes in mid to late September. These storms are fed by the Gulf or maybe the South Pacific, with a low setting up on Baja and a High setting up on the Gulf coast.

What I think it is, that is meant by Monsoon in any case is that the water vapor comes from the south, like Baja and for sure the Gulf. Unlike seasonal spring rain when it is coming from the west or the Pacific.

It is cyclic on a lot of levels, the daily one is when the sun heats the moisture from the day before up causing wide spread and sometimes very heavy rain. The water is generally warmer, from the Gulf, and even sometimes from hurricanes and other low pressure systems that move through the area from as far away as the eastern Atlantic.

There is also the heating cycle of the summer season. Where the water gets warmer in the Gulf and more evaporation on and on.

After a hot day, a nice cooling rain storm feels nice, and, reminds us that we live in a wonderful place.

This is perfect weather if you ask me.