Grand Canyon’s summer rains might have arrived a week or two late, but they have since remained true to form after breaking out last weekend. Scattered storms have soaked much of a park that was parched during a brutal dry spell stretching back to April.
The relief from the annual weather system known as the “monsoon” is palpable. Withering vegetation is rebounding, forest puddles are sating the wildlife who had been combing Grand Canyon Village for the random faucet drip or birdbath, and the cloud cover has been a godsend for backcountry hikers and rim strollers alike. It’s a great time for photographers as well with dramatic skies providing exceptional compositional opportunities.
Dress for rain if you’re planning a visit, and seek shelter if you hear thunder as lightning is a real threat—especially along exposed scenic overlooks. In a typical year this pattern will hold through August. Given the meager precipitation in recent years, we’ll be thankful for every drop. Read more about the monsoonal weather pattern by following this link.
