Raindrops Rarely Fall On My Head

While most of the United States seems to have been inundated with various types of precipitation for the past several months, Arizona has remained dry. Very dry.  In fact, we really haven’t had any significant rainfall since the floods of September/October 2025.  As a result, we have been in a state of high fire danger for months.

Everyone here looks forward to monsoon season, which basically runs from June 15 to September 30.  This is our best chance (other than winter rains, if they happen) for any moisture for the year.  Without it, drought conditions just worsen.  If we get lots of rain, then we get lots of foliage. 

A few years ago, we got so much winter rain that we had what is called a super bloom of spring poppies. It seemed like the sides of every mesa, mountain, and road were carpeted in bright orange yellow blossoms in February and March.  It was such a beautiful spring that year!

Unfortunately, life in Arizona is very much a case of being careful what you pray for!  When you have lots of foliage, eventually it wilts and dies – and creates an increased fire hazard. For the moment, we’ve had just enough moisture to green everything up. 

The birds and other animals are glad for the moisture.  The drought has been driving them (including the larger animals like mountain lions, bears, elk, deer) out of the higher elevations down to the only currently existing lake on the Reservation. Currently, San Carlos Lake is completely dry. Due to government mandated water releases for farmers downstream and low oxygen levels, all the aquatic wildlife has been killed. Sadly, the interests of non-tribal interests often trump tribal needs.  Hopefully, we will get enough rain to restart the lake and the appropriate governmental/tribal entities will restock the lake. 

And every time we think we have gotten the hang of A rizona life, something new pops up!  (no, it didn’t touch down.)