Cats and Dogs

It was September 8th 2014, morning time, about 7 AM and as I looked around my dim room I could tell something wasn't quite right. Usually the sun in beaming through my windows at this time but this morning my room was dark. As I began to wake up more I could hear that unmistakable noise. "Spitter, spatter, spitter, spatter, spitter, spatter." I threw off my sheets and rubbing my eyes, did a zombie like walk to the window. I gazed out to find streams of water cascading down the pane and puddles rapidly accumulating on the lawn. Today it rains, yes! This is what every Arizonian dreams of and what makes it even better is the fact that today I had the day off.

So naturally I did what anyone else would do and went right back to bed. Did you really think I was going to wake up at 7 AM on my day off?! I laid there listening and hopefully wishing I could gain a few more hours of sleep all while being serenaded to the sound of rain. What more could anyone ask for? While laying there looking forward to sleeping in and relaxing my phone rang. Huh that's strange? Nobody calls me this early in the morning. I looked and saw that it was my mom and answered the phone and the first thing she says is, "turn the TV on to channel 5." Now she had my attention! I quickly grabbed the remote and turned on the TV to find this going on...

It was the flash flood of the century! In the 5 years that I have lived in Arizona I haven't seen anything close to this. It closed down the entire interstate and several other roads right around the barn and mom and dads house. People were stranded, houses were being swept away and rescues were being made to help all those who failed to obey the stupid idiot law. It was quite the spectacle to watch and as I sat there thankful I didn't have to fight my way to work in this horrible weather, I realized my plans to go ride Sparky that day were completely abolished. So was my day off ruined? Heavens no! This northern Californian girl knows exactly what to do when it rains and suddenly, like instinct, my inner storm chaser awakened. I need to go check this baby out! I finished talking to my mom and then got ready to head out and face this storm (just like a leaf race mom.) I love storm chasing!

 This was the cactus farm right by the wash behind mom and dads house. A lot of the plants were actually swept away.

 This is the skunk creek aka the wash behind mom and dads house. By the time I got up there the waters had subsided a lot but it was still way too high to get across and/or even close.

 This is the same wash/creek but clear down by my house. Thats pinnacle peak road that goes across it.

 And this was taken at the same spot in the picture above but looking to the right, there was a ton of water coming through!

This is the reservoir in my neighborhood that is normally bone dry. People were taking kayaks out and letting their dogs swim in it since it was so full!

This was another flooded street on the way out to the barn, that sign actually ready "do not cross when flooded."


And here are a few more pics taken from the news. Below is the carefree high just east of the I-17 they had to close it down the water was coming up so high.







                                                                             

The last two pics are of the I-17 and skunk creek again. After I had done my storm chasing and documenting I headed back home. It made for a very exciting and unusual day for us desert folks.