Bermuda High Strengthens

The Bermuda High over the North Atlantic finally strengthened this week to levels usually seen at the height of summer. There are two consequences of this strengthening:

• Developing Hurricane Emily is unlikely to approach the U.S. mainland. Earliest indications are that the storm will barrel across the Caribbean and hit Belize and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula instead; and,
• The actual start and the formal start of the Southwest monsoon season occurred this year at about the same time (approximately July 10th). The monsoon looks like its starting quietly, though, so not much will happen for a few days.

(Art work by Deborah McMillion-Nering: the folks in Phoenix can hardly wait for the summer monsoon season to get going in earnest!)