GREAT EXPLANATION ABOUT THE NORTH AMERICAN MONSOON! (credit: NWS Phoenix, Arizona)

DISCUSSION: As we move into the heart of May and find the start of June just around the corner, the Southwestern United States and Mexico turn their attention to what has come to be recognized as the North American Monsoon.  This monsoon circulation forms as a result of a somewhat persistent high pressure system which builds into the Southwestern to South-Central United States and induces stronger moisture advection off of the Gulf of California and the Gulf of Mexico.  This process helps to increase the potential for more consistently heavier rainfall across the Southwest U.S. between mid-late June and mid-late September and sometimes slightly outside this timeframe as well. For other interesting high-impact weather content, be sure to click here!