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 If
you like sunshine, you're going to love Arizona. The Phoenix metro
area is justly nicknamed "The Valley of the Sun." A beautiful valley,
surrounded by gorgeous mountains, boasts of 300 clear sunny days
a year. Sunshine is the very thing that draws many recruits longing
to escape dull, gray and dreary days and long, cold, snowy, depressing
winters.
You've certainly heard the expression, "But it's a dry heat." That
may seem a small consolation to the occasional 115 degree summer
day, but until you've spent a day in Orlando at 90 degrees and the
next day in Phoenix at 115 degrees, you won't appreciate the truth
of that statement. Temperatures in the valley are depicted in the
following graph.
 Very
limited rainfall in the Valley provides the dry heat Phoenicians
love. However, those who think it never rains in Arizona will be
surprised to learn of the "Monsoon Season." On average,
monsoon begins around July 5 and continues through September. Typically,
monsoon storms start with heavy winds sometimes resulting in a visible
wall of dust hundreds of feet high moving across the Valley. Thunder,
lightning and heavy downpours generally accompany dust storms, very
often causing significant flooding. Almost 40% of Phoenix's rainfall
occurs during the monsoon season. While an occasional snowflake
has been reported on rare occasion, it seldom reaches the ground
before it abandons its fluffy whiteness to the beautiful Arizona
sun.
Temperatures in the Valley dictate the necessity for casual dress.
If you want to see a man in a coat and tie, you'll have to really
look. It's not unusual to see a newby with no coat and even shorts
throughout the winter months. While adjusting to the new climate,
a new Phoenician may actually use their air conditioning all winter.
After a couple of years, however, those who poked fun at people
in leather coats in 60 degree weather, join the ranks of the desert
rats and grab those coats to take out the trash.
If, after prolonged sunshine and dry weather, you long for rain,
snow or cooler weather, just jump in your car. In 2-4 hours you
can experience it all without ever leaving the state. What more
could you ask for? Arizona, the greatest place in America to live.
You know you are in Phoenix if:
You buy salsa by the gallon.
Drivers think a red traffic light is just a suggestion.
All of your out-of-town friends start to visit after October,
but clear out before the end of April.
Most of the restaurants in town have the first name "El"
or "Los."
You think 6 tons of crushed rock makes a beautiful yard.
You notice your car overheating before you drive it.
You no longer associate bridges (or rivers) with water.
You see more irrigation water on the street than in the
river.
You know a swamp cooler is not a happy hour drink.
You can say 115 degrees without fainting.
Vehicles with open windows have the right-of-way.
People break out coats when the temperature drops below
70.
You discover, in July, it only takes two fingers to drive
your car.
You think someone driving wearing oven mitts is clever.
The pool can be warmer than you are.
You can make sun tea instantly.
You run your air conditioner in the middle of winter so
you can use your fireplace.
People with black cars or upholstery are assumed to be
from out-of-town.
Hot air balloons can't go up because the air outside is
hotter than the air inside.
You realize that Valley Fever isn't a disco dance.
The water from the cold water tap is the same temperature
as the hot one.
It's noon in July, the kids are on summer vacation, and
not one person is moving in the streets.
You actually burn your hand opening the car door.
You notice the best parking place is determined by shade
instead of distance
You have seat belt impressions branded in the palms of
your hands.
Ahh, gotta love it!
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