North American Monsoon Eases Drought but Floods Southwest Areas

The monsoon season had brought heavy rains and rumbling thunderstorms across Southwest regions which was expected to lead to flash flooding in some areas.

AccuWeather forecasts a wetter mid-June as daily downpours will persist bringing along risk for flashfloods. On Tuesday, local station KOB 4 News reported at least three people being swept away by floodwaters into the North Diversion Channel due to heavy rain drenching Albuquerque, New Mexico. The two bodies had been found while the third person is still missing, according to Associated Press report.

It looks like moisture will persist in the region as larger concentration of shower and thunderstorm activity over the Four Corners states continues into the weekend.

The Rainfall Eases the Severely Dry Southwest

As dangers of monsoon storms 'turn deadly' in some areas, the rainfall also brings relief to the exceptionally dry and extreme drought in Southwest, on which two of the most intense categories have widely ranged as per the United States Drought Monitor.

This week's record shows the worst drought, but meteorologists believe that the sudden series of storms could also bring flash flooding due to low absorption of severely dried soil, which is why intense levels of rainfall is also not good.

"Scenes of flash flooding observed last week across the Southwest will likely persist through this week as the general atmospheric pattern remains unchanged," AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said.

"Flash flooding can quickly turn a busy intersection into a dangerous flowing body of water during a torrential downpour. Motorists should never attempt to drive through a flooded roadway as one bad decision can quickly turn deadly," added AccuWeather Meteorologist Mary Gilbert.

Series of mudslides in areas of steep terrain is warned as well. A section of State Route 168 just west of the winter closure gate in the Sierra Nevada was closed by Caltrans crews on Monday as the road needs much cleaning.

Also read: Projected Thunderstorms and Rainfall to Continue in the South, Say Meteorologists

Possibility of Dust Storms and Dry Lightnings

As rainfalls continue to target the Four Corners region, thunderstorms are also possible farther north across the interior West. However, these storms are not expected to produce as much rainfall, which is why dust storms may occur in areas that had not been soaked by downpours. The drop in air quality could become a travel hazard especially for motorists.

In addition, waves of energy high in the atmosphere can also spread isolated thunderstorms northward into Nevada, eastern Oregon, Idaho and Montana through the middle of the week, which "pose a risk for dry lightning strikes," said Pastelok.

Due to thunderstorm generating little-to-no rainfall, any precipitation falling from the storm cloud evaporates and produces dry lightning, which sparks another wildfire problem.

While AccuWeather meteorologists are expecting another monsoon-generated shower into this weekend, this level of rain might not only be very beneficial, but may also lead to major flash flooding.

With the typical scattered nature of showers and thunderstorms during monsoon seasons, some parts of the region may feel this less than others such as Salt Lake City and Phoenix.

Also read: Rare Lightning Strikes the Arctic, Scientists Warn the Planet is Warming Faster