It's Raining, but not here

One characteristic of the monsoon season in the high desert is uneven rainfall.  It will be bone dry at the Painted Pony Resort but pouring buckets some place else in the valley or in the mountains.  The last time this effected the estate was when it rained in the Peloncillo mountains but the estate received only 0.05".  The water from the Peloncillos funneled through the estate tearing out and moving a 30" x 20' diameter culvert.  While out working yesterday I noticed a monsoon storm building to the south and took the panoramic image below.  A single isolated area of falling rain was visible.  Upon checking the radar to see if it was moving north I noticed that what I viewed outside was actually occurring 27 miles south of the estate, down by Paramore Crater and in the San Bernardino Valley.  Since this is across the drainage divide all the rain water was headed south.  But it nicely illustrates the idea that you can see forever in the San Simon Valley.  I should say that the monsoon faded then built again and the estate received 0.61" overnight, bringing the monthly total to 4.81" for this monsoon and a yearly total so far of 8.35".

The main house and guest house at the Painted Pony Resort with an isolated monsoon storm in the background

Screen grab of the radar image showing the location of PPR and the isolated monsoon storm shown in the photograph.

What is CoCoRaHS

Volunteer weather reporting is an important tool in understanding local rainfall patterns and how they affect the valley and surrounding mountains.  There are primarily 2 rainy seasons in the southwest, winter rains and the late summer monsoon which together account for the majority of the yearly precipitation in the desert southwest.  Strong winter rains result spectacular wildflower displays in the spring while strong monsoons result in a general greening of the desert and recharge the San Simon aquifer providing for year round water supplies.

CoCoRaHS (Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network) is a nation wide volunteer precipitation reporting organization composed of citizen scientists with the goals:
"1) provide accurate high-quality precipitation data for our many end users on a timely basis; 2) increasing the density of precipitation data available throughout the country by encouraging volunteer weather observing; 3) encouraging citizens to have fun participating in meteorological science and heightening their awareness about weather; 4) providing enrichment activities in water and weather resources for teachers, educators and the community at large" (mission statement). 

In Hidalgo county NM there are 5 active CoCoRaHS reporting stations and 2 of these are in the San Simon Valley, one at the Painted Pony Resort and one at the Chiricahua Desert Museum.  Although only 2.8 miles apart this can make for a significant difference in rain fall totals.  Rain can vary significantly across the valley as evidenced by a local rainfall reporting group and in the photograph show below.  Frequently rain showers are isolated and while one area may experience significant rainfall areas close by may receive little or no rain.  So the more reporting stations, the more data available for analysis, resulting in a better the understanding of local climate.

Isolated storm in the Chiricahua Mountains

CoCoRaHS rain gauge at the Painted Pony Resort