North American Monsoon—August 2026

The North American Monsoon in August was mostly missing in action–at least over northern Arizona. There were several “monsoon burst” periods but these were greatly exceeded by “monsoon breaks.”

A lot of my photography took place at Mormon Lake. It’s close to home and has great views in all directions. And some years it even has water! Other locations this month included Grand Canyon National Park, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, and Wupatki National Monument.

11 August 2026

This day provided some afternoon thunderstorms over the vast grasslands of Wupatki National Park followed by some evening photography at Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument.

A distant thunderstorm over the Coconino Plateau of northern Arizona.

A thunderstorm produces lightning over the Painted Desert east of Wupatki National Monument.

Sunset light at Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument.

The sunset has ended but a rainbow remains over Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument.

A zoomed-in view of a rainbow in Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument.

14 August 2026

Instead of shooting in the afternoon I chose to shoot shortly after sunrise in hopes of catching some morning fog. Success.

Widespread rain on the previous day produced areas of morning fog in the Mormon Lake basin

20 August 2026

Another visit to Wupatki N.M. resulted in these sunset and lightning photos. Storms over eastern Arizona during the afternoon produced outflow that moved to the west and generated new storms over and near Wupatki N.M. in the early evening.

A wide-angle panorama of a convective outflow boundary approaching Wukoki Pueblo in Wupatki N.M.

For a brief moment the sunset light appeared and illuminated the clouds with a distant lightning stike also present.

The sun has set but lightning continued to the north of Wupatki N.M.

A composite of two images: a short exposure for the lightning; and a long exposure for the foreground.

22 August 2026

Sunsets and rainbows.

A brief rainbow appeared over Anderson Mesa east of Mormon Lake.

A break in the clouds allowed sunset light to filter in and illuminate the clouds over Mormon Lake.

23 August 2026

Convection started early — and ended quickly — over Grand Canyon. Fortunately, there was still plenty of good light for sunset photographs elsewhere.

A lightning bolt pierces the depths of Grand Canyon.

Sunset light and sunflowers in Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument.

Sunflowers and the San Francisco Peaks from Bonito Park near Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument.

29 August 2026

Great sunset clouds, beautiful post-sunset lightning, and a Moonbow (Lunar rainbow) made this one of the best photo outings of the month.

A cap cloud atop the San Francisco Peaks and distant thunderstorms are illuminated by the setting sun.

A thunderstorm is internally illuminated by in-cloud lightning while a massive cloud-to-ground lightning flash strikes in front of the storm.

Thunderstorm and lighting with stars visible above the storm.

The rising Moon illuminates parts of a thunderstorm while lightning strikes the ground in the distance.

For a few days before/after the full Moon the lunar light can be bright enough to create a visible Moonbow (or Lunar rainbow). Here the bow shares the night sky with a flash of lightning.

Thunderstorm with lightning and a Moonbow (Lunar rainbow).

Time lapse of the Moonbow.

30-day rainfall totals for August in the Flagstaff rain gauge network.

Here’s hoping that September brings at least a few days of good storm photography.

Flagstaff Altitudes