Description

Red Rock Country

About the Photo: This panorama was shot from the slickrock south of the Yavapai Vista parking area in late July, the heart of Arizona’s monsoon season. .  In the foreground from left to right are the Gibraltor, Lee Mountain, Baby Bell Rock, Rabbit Ears, Courthouse Butte, and Bell Rock in shadow. A monsoon is caused by warm air creating a surface low pressure zone which draws moist air from the oceans. Arizona winds usually come from the west, but shift to a southeasterly wind in the summer, bringing moisture, most often from the Gulfs of Mexico and California. While many people believe that monsoons only occur in Asia, true monsoons do occur in the Southwest US, particularly in Arizona and New Mexico.