Each year, from July to September, a season known as the monsoon descends on Grand Canyon West, creating amazing thunder and lightning storms that have thrilled travelers for years. Of course, there are risks related to lightning. Nonetheless, if you follow a few precautions, you\’ll safely experience one of the planet\’s greatest natural \”fireworks shows.\”

The term \”monsoon\” is Arabic for \”a season.\” It was first used to describe the winds over the Arabian Sea that blow southwest for six months then switch direction and blow northeast for the other half. Europe, Africa, and the western coasts of Chile and the U.S. experience a monsoon season.

The monsoon that comes to Arizona is nothing like the one that drenches India, for example (In fact, Arizona\’s is rather marginal, dropping an average of 2.45 inches of rain in three months), and is the result of cool air from the Sea of Cortez and the Gulf of Mexico meeting the hot air of the desert to produce thunderstorms. The monsoon formally starts when the average daily dew point is 55 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

The most important thing for visitors to the West Rim to keep in mind about thunderstorms is lightning, and the rule of thumb is this: If you can hear thunder, lightning is nearby. Here are a few tips if you get stuck in storm:

1. If a thunderstorm is close by, stay inside or get inside a vehicle (not a convertible).

2. Do not use mobile phones

3. If you are outside, avoid isolated trees or utility poles. Don\’t stand on open hilltops. Seek shelter under a thick growth of small trees.

4. Get off or away from open water. If you are in a group in the open, keep a couple of yards apart from each other.

During thunderstorms, the Grand Canyon Glass Walk Way will be closed to the public up until the storm passes. Skywalk management will also close the destination if lightning is sighted in a two-mile radius.

Flash floods are a common feature of monsoon thunderstorms. Should you drive to the West Rim, bear in mind that the last ten miles to the Park entrance is dirt road. If you are trapped in fast-moving water, get out and seek higher ground. Same is true if your vehicle stalls in a wash. Hikers are also urged to go to higher ground if they\’re in gullies or canyons during a thunderstorm.

Typical monsoon-related thunderstorms are powerful but quick, and don\’t result in trip cancellations or rescheduling (this applies to bus, heli, and rafting tours). Plenty of people find this to be among the best times to visit West Rim. Temperatures cool down. The skyline is full of thunderheads. Lightning puts on a natural light show. But most extraordinary is the fresh sage and creosote smell of the Mojave Desert following a good downpour.

Your chances of getting physically impacted by monsoon storms are slight. Each year in Arizona, flooding results in up to three casualties and lightning up to two. Remember, the monsoon is at its weakest in Northern Arizona. A large number of accidents occur from Phoenix down to the border of Mexico. However, you\’ll still need to take precautions, and, by doing so, you\’ll have a terrific Grand Canyon West Rim experience.

Author Bio: Mr. Kravitz is a travel writer specializing in Grand Canyon tours. Go here for his list of the Top 3 Grand Canyon tour operators. Companies are handpicked based on safety, quality and price. Stop by and see if there\’s a tour for you!

Category: Travel
Keywords: grand canyon, grand canyon tours, grand canyon west, las vegas, vegas, national park, grand canyon v