Weather

WEATHER: The fifth most important element of desert safety and enjoyment is the weather. The weather can make or break your time in the desert, depending on how well you are prepared for the wide variety of weather conditions you will encounter. I GUARANTEE that you will encounter most of the following weather conditions, no matter what part of the southwestern deserts you are in:

• WIND: The desert is sometimes windy, and these winds can blow for days at a time, especially in winter. We recommend that you have some sort of windproof clothing for cool or cold winds. Windproof clothing items are usually advertised as such and usually have a nylon shell and a nylon hood to stop the wind. In hot weather, it's best to leave skin exposed to the wind (but not to the sun) to aid in cooling by evaporation.
• FLASH FLOODS: Thunderstorms can wash hikers away and bury them in the canyons and washes of the Southwest. They can happen almost any time of the year, but are most prevalent in the summer months. Read and heed the clouds! Even if you do, you may be surprised.  Many washes and canyons drain large areas, with their headwaters many miles away. The dangerous part is, sometimes you just can’t tell what’s coming down the wash or canyon due to the vast distances and because the cliff walls are too high to see out to any storms that may be creating flood potential upstream. With any sign of a threat, it's best to get out of the canyon bottom, at least 20 vertical meters up to avoid water and debris.  Since many of these canyons are narrow, there are places where it’s not possible to get out of the canyon on short notice.  Never drive a vehicle into a flooded wash.  Stop and wait for the water to recede, as it usually will within an hour.
  
• SNOW AND COLD:  The desert is not just hot.   It can get very cold, too.  Even within the same 24 hour period!  There may be as much as a 60 degree difference between daytime and night time temperatures.  Be prepared for anything! 
• SAND AND DUST STORMS:  Not as common or as dangerous as thunderstorms, but every bit as scary.  They often appear as a wall of sand and dust coming at you across the desert.  The dust and sand can reduce visibility to near zero and wreak havoc on auto finishes and human lungs.
• TORNADOES and MICROBURSTS:  Though they are rare, the occasional tornado is spotted in the desert.  Microbursts are sudden downdrafts created by thunderstorms and can be quite devastating, smashing trees, even giant saguaro cactus!
• HEAT:  The extreme heat of the desert can be very dangerous to both man and machine.   
  1. Always drink plenty of water and other fluids.  Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.  By then, it’s too late. 
  2. Stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day.
  3. When working or hiking, rest often, in the shade.
  4. Wear sunscreen and protective hat and clothing whenever it’s sunny.   We recommend a hat that shades your ears, because a high percentage of skin cancers start on people’s ears. 
  5. Wear sunglasses that are resistant to the sun’s Ultraviolet rays.  
  6. Avoid Alcohol.  It dehydrates the body.
• LIGHTNING:  Lightning is by far the most dangerous weather phenomenon of all!  Use common sense when choosing a campsite.  Don't camp on ridges, directly under trees, or near power lines.  Your car or 4X4 vehicle is the best place to be when there’s lightning around.  If you're out in the open, stay crouched on the ground with only your two feet touching it.  This way, if lightning strikes, it will not pass through your heart.

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