The National Weather Service has been warning us about an El Nino cycle developing for this year, and if this is true then we folks in Arizona really do have an active monsoon season and winter to look forward to.

Of course, where most things in life are a blessing and a curse, wishing for an active monsoon season comes with its own risks, as the more active the monsoon, the greater the chances for severe thunderstorm activity and moist storms as opposed to the predominantly dry and dusty ones we’ve seen the past couple of years. I love thunderstorms as much as anyone else, but I find the older I get, the more I can do without the severe kind. I’ve got young queen palms in my backyard, and their sprouts need to be allowed to grow into big and full branches. Heavy thunderstorms tend to raise havoc with that.

And once you’re done with monsoon season, an active El Nino means more winter weather and wet storms coming off the Pacific. Those I don’t mind – in fact, I look forward to the first of those storms right around the first week of December when everyone is putting up their Christmas lights. Unfortunately, before and after winter storms come cold (at least for around here) temperatures, which means getting out the covers for all the flora and fauna in the back yard. It’s more of a nuisance than anything else, but the young queens are going to have to be wrapped in protective material as well.

At the very least, an active El Nino pattern brings with it real “weather” for us here in the Valley of the Sun. It’s a nice change from the usual, and it will be interesting to see how this year’s monsoon season evolves.