Southeastern California Storm Chase - April 23, 2015
HD RECOMMENDED*** On April 23, 2015, a cold-core low pressure system was set to affect southern California and southwestern Arizona. Corbin Jaeger and I ...
Nice. Ya the series of upper air disturbances brought ample instability to
the mountains, and both low and high desert areas this week. Nothing here
along the coast, but several desert communities reported nickel sized hail,
and even a tornado near Desert Center, CA just off hwy 10. It will be
interesting to see what kind of impacts, if any, the late season El Nino
will have on this year's monsoon season. I've seen it go both ways with
extra moisture getting pumped into the desert southwest from the tropical
pacific. Other times a weaker monsoon due to the lack of tropical activity
on the Gulf of Mexico side, leading to less moisture and fewer easterly
waves moving in. With severe drought conditions prevailing, we could really
use an active monsoon season. However rare, it would be even better if
there was a westward propagation of monsoon moisture bringing rain all the
way to the coast.
+Kevin Day Thanks! You're right, it can easily go both ways in regard to El Nino. Hopefully sea surface temps will stay warm, should instigate more tropical activity that could influence the monsoon moisture spread across the region. Also hoping that monsoon moisture does reach well into CA to help alleviate the drought.
Trey, that is a nice CA chase with good views of the cloud tops as well as
rain shafts.
You continue to have amazing storm chases during April which is normally a
quiet time in the Desert Southwest. All I got out of this low was plenty of
stratus and cold weather.
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