Weather

Sam Pillsbury Answers the Question: Why Arizona Wine?

Why Arizona wine? In 2000 -- the year I planted my first vineyard at the end of a lonely, dusty road in Cochise County, 12 miles south of Willcox -- one of the 10 Best 'How to Lose Money' jokes on Saturday Night Live was: Plant a Vineyard In Arizona. Arizona is all Sonoran Desert, obviously suicid ... More >>

Make It Rain

Climate Change May Lead to "Exodus from Phoenix," or Maybe Just Total Disaster

The end of Phoenix metro area may be nigh, at least, according to one guy.A writer who focuses mostly on environmental affairs in the Southwest says that Phoenix just keeps getting hotter, and among other problems, it could lead to a Superstorm Sandy-like or Hurricane Katrina-like disaster.

Dumbest Name for a Phoenix Weather Event: "Haboob" or "Graupel"?

Here's something in Phoenix you can enjoy during the summer and winter: obnoxious names for weather events.It's nearly impossible to live in the Valley for more than five minutes without hearing the word "haboob," and yesterday, meterologists decided to piss on everyone's parade, and tell people tha ... More >>

Puppet Love

Weather Nazis Insist It's Not Snowing in Phoenix -- It's "Graupel"

Excuuuse all of us who thought it's been snowing in Phoenix this afternoon.According to the weather Nazis -- by "weather Nazis," we mean every meteorologist in the Valley, as well as the National Weather Service -- it's some substance called "graupel" that's dropping in Phoenix.

Coming Soon: Global Bacon Shortage

The internet's most beloved meat is imperiled by the droughts that have been sweeping the globe this last year. Britain's pork trade group recently started sounding the alarm stating that a European pork shortage is "unavoidable." See Also: Ron Swanson Does Bacon Beat Poetry See Also: Everything's ... More >>

Urbane Outfitters

Pontiak Braves Tornadoes and Chainsaws Downed Trees to Deliver the Riff Rock of Echo Ono

See also: Pontiak Makes an Album About Driving from Phoenix to Texas The last time we blogged about the brothers Pontiak --Van, Lain, and Jennings Carney -- we discussed their EP, Comecrudos, a concept record designed for a drive through the American Southwest. It garnered an interesting comment fr ... More >>

Man Killed in Chaotic I-10 Wrecks Identified; Dust Caused Three Chain Reaction Collisions in Four Hours

​Unbelievably, there was only one fatality in a series of large-vehicle wrecks on Interstate 10 yesterday afternoon, and the deceased has been identified 66-year-old William Tatsch of Austin, Texas.In total, there were three separate wrecks -- involving nearly 30 vehicles -- caused by a dust ... More >>

The Best Songs to Listen to During an Arizona Monsoon

In anticipation of this weekend's (forecasted) rainy weather, I have compiled a list of the best locally generated songs to listen to during an Arizona monsoon. While plenty of bands nation and worldwide have created excellent songs to listen to during a storm, I am looking to some of Arizona's fin ... More >>

Haboobs in Arizona Known for Centuries to Pimas as "Jegos"

Image: @jeffgokeeCheck out this and other shots from readers of last night's "jegos" on the New Times site.​ Nothing against the Sudanese, but "haboob" is a dumb-sounding name to English-receiving ears. It inspires more ridicule than the awesomeness these wind-blown monsters deserve.The news m ... More >>

Arizona Dust Storm Report Released Online by National Weather Service; Dissects Cause and Development

Image: National Weather ServiceA Doppler radar image captures the enormity of the July 5 dust storm.​ The July 5 dust storm was among the most "significant" ever seen by National Weather Service experts who have been in the Valley 30 years, according to a new online report.Everything you wante ... More >>

Drought Eases in Arizona; Phoenix Area Now "Moderate"

Image: U.S. Drought MonitorArizona's drought is actually easing -- for the western part of the state.​ After the storm like the one the Valley had last night and all the wildfires, you'd think Arizona was one giant dust bowl.You'd be wrong.Despite "exceptional," bone-dry conditions in the sout ... More >>

Epic Dust Storm Sweeps Through Valley

Image: Shannon ArmourThe leading edge of a massive dust storm that hit the Valley approaches Interstate 10 at about 7:20 p.m., near Riggs Road.​

Six Structures Lost in Greer to Wallow Fire; Weather Conditions a Slight Improvement for Firefighters

​Greer lost six structures last night to the still-growing Wallow fire, but weather conditions are expected to improve today for firefighters.A U.S. Forest Service spokesman said the blaze, for now, is holding to its eastern borders."It did push into some structures last night, but we were able to ... More >>

Kanye West Responsible for "Worst Part" of Bush Presidency

THIS was the worst part of Bush's presidency. What that guy on the right said that night.​It's soapbox time, everybody.In a recently taped interview with Matt Lauer, George W. Bush claimed that Kanye West's candid outburst on the September 2, 2005 Concert for Hurricane Relief telethon -- "George B ... More >>

Take Your Walk to the Desert

I of the Storm

Exhibit tells Katrina survivors’ stories

I of the Storm

Exhibit tells Katrina survivors’ stories

Camelback Mountain in Summer Heat Too Much for Some Hikers; Several Rescued Since Friday

Image: Ray Stern Camelback Mountain​We stepped out of the house just before 6 a.m. yesterday to hike Camelback Mountain and nearly jumped back inside. It was about 90. The air was warm and fluffy, like we'd climbed into a sleeping bag in a sauna. We weren't deterred, though ... More >>

Tucson Man Struck by Lightning on Golf Course Dies

​For anyone unfamiliar with the physics of electricity and metal, swinging steel rods through the air during a storm is a great way to get yourself zapped by lightning. That, it seems, was the case for a Tucson man who died yesterday after being struck by lightning while playing golf over the ... More >>

Gordo Getdown

Punxsutawney Phil "Tweets" About Seeing His Shadow; For Phoenix That's Probably a Good Thing

​Today is Groundhog's Day and Pennsylvania's most famous marmot emerged from his hole in Punxsutawney this morning to see his shadow, which, of course, means there will be six more weeks of winter.Normally we would rely on morning shows like Good Morning America to broadcast Phil's findings but th ... More >>

Sunrise and Snowbowl Ski Resorts Close as Storm Socks State

Valley skiers want to see fresh powder in the high country, and today's storm system is bringing plenty.But the weather will need to clear up a bit before anyone can enjoy it.Blizzard conditions today shut down Sunrise Ski Resort and Arizona Snowbowl, the state's premier snow-skiing spots. Ima ... More >>

Tornado Watch in Effect for Maricopa County; WTF?

We're doomed! Probably not.​The National Weather Service has issued an improbable tornado watch for Maricopa and Pinal counties until 10 p.m.Sorry, snowbirds, Phoenix isn't nothin' but sunshine all the time.According to the National Weather Service, a major tornado in Phoenix is incredibly r ... More >>

Dairy Club Offers Fresh Farm Food at Discount Prices

​What's better than homemade ice cream in the middle of a late August heat wave? Cheap homemade ice cream in the middle of a late August heat wave. Lucky for us, Superstition Farms is offering some sweet dairy discounts and exclusives for cow connoisseurs who join their Dairy Club, which folks ... More >>

Hot Links: Monsoons, ADOT's Outsourced PR, and 'Racinos'

The monsoons have finally arrived in the Valley. After a series of thunderstorms Monday night, the city saw more storms early this morning. Although temperatures in the Valley are expected to be around 108 the next several days, the Weather Service says the chance for thunderstorms will continue int ... More >>

WeatherFest

No one is saying you should waste water, but in Phoenix it's hard to come up with a reason not to

Jen Urso and Bill Berry

Hello Kitty

A little-known genre of New Orleans music

Oooh-La-Leave

It's like a foreign country

Critical Fatwa

Michael Jackson

Struck Dumb

Strom-y weather

Swamped

Everything you ever wanted to know about swamp coolers, but were afraid to ask the guy at Home Depot

White Matter

Beach blanketed? Bingo.

Beenie Man

Tropical Storm (Virgin)

Monsoon Madness

Since monsoons seem to be the only news in town, New Times chief meteorologist Robert Nelson answers your Monsoon 2002 questions

Smoke Signal

The Rodeo-Chediski fire has destroyed more than trees in Apache country

Quilt Trip

Going to the Well Too Often

Should boom towns like Prescott let little things like water shortages keep them from growing?

Letters

Boom, Boom on the Range

Where endangered Sonoran pronghorn antelope play under the roar of U.S. Air Force jets on live-fire bombing exercises

Tapped Out

In Pine and Strawberry, the groundwater runs down to Phoenix. Now water reserves are shrinking, the two paradisiacal Mogollon Rim hamlets are drying out--and hardly anyone wants to admit it.

Time to Burn

Is the Lone Fire a preview of California-style infernos to come?

The Center of the Warm

Nationally renowned ASU scientist Robert Balling thinks environmentalists have exaggerated the threat of global warming. He knows politicians and the press have distorted the climate debate.

GIVE 'EM HAIL, HURRY!

FOR THE ARIZONA THUNDERSTORM CHASERS, THE SKY'S THE LIMIT. AND THEREIN LIES THE RUB.

BUYING A GILA MONSTER

FARMERS IN THE GILA RIVER BASIN HAVE ALREADY SUCKED DOWN $500 MILLION IN GOVERNMENT PORK. NOW THEY WANT ANOTHER $20 MILLION FOR A SENSELESS FLOOD-CONTROL PROJECT.

THE COST OF TOXIC SPILLSHERE'S HOW YOU'LL PAY FOR MOTOROLA'S CONTAMINATION