Category: Weather

Cloud photographs–May 2025

On a recent trip between northern Arizona and Colorado I had the chance to photograph several interesting clouds and a rainbow.

Rain showers over Arches National Park with the La Sal Mountains in the distance.
Rain showers over Arches National Park with the La Sal Mountains in the distance.
Rain showers over Arches National Park with the La Sal Mountains in the distance.
Rain showers over Arches National Park with the La Sal Mountains in the distance.

Early in the trip we visited Arches National Park near Moab, Utah. Our timing was good to catch late afternoon light and the setting sun over the beautiful red rock of the park. Fortunately, a few showers were well positioned to catch the light and create an amazing scene. Over a period of about one-half hour the light went from flat to beautiful to shadow–then back to amazing. And then the Sun set and it was over.

Wave cloud (altocumulus standing lenticularis, ACSL) over the Sangre de Cristo mountains in south-central Colorado.
Wave cloud (altocumulus standing lenticularis, ACSL) over the Sangre de Cristo mountains in south-central Colorado.
Even smaller wave are evident on the larger wave cloud.
Even smaller wave are evident on the larger wave cloud.
Another view of the wave cloud over the Sangre de Cristo mountain range in south-central Colorado.
Another view of the wave cloud over the Sangre de Cristo mountain range in south-central Colorado.

On the return trip we saw a very nice wave cloud (altocumulus standing lenticularis or ACSL) over the mountain of southern Colorado. It remained in place long enough for us to get to the San Luis Valley and the Sangre de Cristo mountain range in south-central Colorado. The juxtaposition of the mountain range and wave cloud made a nice composition. After a few minutes at this location, we continue on our journey and then stopped again to look back at the wave cloud now located to our northeast.

Spray from Treasure Falls near Wolf Creek Pass produces a small rainbow.
Spray from Treasure Falls near Wolf Creek Pass produces a small rainbow.
Cascading water from Treasure Falls near Wolf Creek Pass, Colorado.
Cascading water from Treasure Falls near Wolf Creek Pass, Colorado.

Spray from Treasure falls produces a rainbow.

Finally, as we descended the west side of Wolf Creek Pass we stopped at Treasure Falls. After a short hike we arrived at the falls. The Sun was now low enough in the west to create a rainbow in the spray from the falls. Pretty nice!

Snow in April

Snow in April! Actually, it isn’t rare for snow in April in Flagstaff. In fact, it is more likely that there is snow in April than no snow. Over the course of record for Flagstaff (1898–2025), there has been measurable snow in 107 of those years. Only 21 years had no snow or only a Trace of snow.

The snowfall this April, however, has been well above average. To date, there has been 13.5″ of snow (average for the entire month is 7.3″), falling in two events: April 2–3 (4.3″) and April 18–19 (9.0″).

This is good news as we had a dry winter. Our snow season total (July 1–present) stands at 60.3″ compared to an average of 87.6″. It is unlikely that we will catch up to normal as the chances for significant snow decrease rapidly going forward. However, this late influx of moisture (both March and April) has been good in bringing the fire danger down to LOW across the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests.

Here are some photographs from both of these events.

Layers of clouds are draped across the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff, Arizona, in the wake of a winter storm (04 April 2025).
Layers of clouds are draped across the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff, Arizona, in the wake of a winter storm (04 April 2025).
The rising sun illuminates clouds draped across Mormon Mountain in northern Arizona in the wake of a winter storm (04 April 2025).
The rising sun illuminates clouds draped across Mormon Mountain in northern Arizona in the wake of a winter storm (04 April 2025).

Time-lapse video of clouds over the San Francisco Peaks and Mormon Mountain in northern Arizona.

Streamers of fog and low clouds move below the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona (19 April 2025).
Streamers of fog and low clouds move below the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona (19 April 2025).
Streamers of fog and low clouds move below the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona (19 April 2025).
Streamers of fog and low clouds move below the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona (19 April 2025).
Fog and low clouds move below the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona (19 April 2025).
Fog and low clouds move below the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona (19 April 2025).
Fog and low clouds drape across the red rock spires of Sedona, Arizona (19 April 2025).
Fog and low clouds drape across the red rock spires of Sedona, Arizona (19 April 2025).
The rising Sun illuminates mist and fog swirling around the red rocks of the Munds Mountain Wilderness (19 April 2025).
The rising Sun illuminates mist and fog swirling around the red rocks of the Munds Mountain Wilderness (19 April 2025).
Mist and fog swirls around the red rock cliffs and is reflected in a small pool in Munds Mountain Wilderness (19 April 2025).
Mist and fog swirls around the red rock cliffs and is reflected in a small pool in Munds Mountain Wilderness (19 April 2025).
The setup for the previous photograph.
The setup for the previous photograph.
Dewdrops adorn this small lupine in Sedona (19 April 2025).
Dewdrops adorn this small lupine in Sedona (19 April 2025).
Snow adorns the blossoms of this flowering fruit tree in Flagstaff (19 April 2025).
Snow adorns the blossoms of this flowering fruit tree in Flagstaff (19 April 2025).
Snow on a flowering forsythia bush in Flagstaff (18 April 2025).
Snow on a flowering forsythia bush in Flagstaff (18 April 2025).
Snow on a flowering crab apple tree (18 April 2025).
Snow on a flowering crab apple tree (18 April 2025).
Snow and daffodil, Flagstaff (18 April 2025).
Snow and daffodil, Flagstaff (18 April 2025).
Snow in the upper reaches of Oak Creek Canyon with the switchbacks of SR-89A below.
Snow in the upper reaches of Oak Creek Canyon with the switchbacks of SR-89A below.

March was a Snowy Month

As noted elsewhere on these pages this winter has been very dry and warm. That changed in March as a series of storms moved across the southwest. By the time it was over we had accumulated 2.47″ of SWE (snow water equivalent) and 35.6″ of snow. It was greatly appreciated because we are now heading into our dry and windy season (“wildfire season”) and anything that helps to moisten the landscape is appreciated.

Here is a collection of photographs taken during this extended period of snow.

08 March 2025

Clouds cap the San Francisco Peaks just before sunrise (08 March 2025).
Clouds cap the San Francisco Peaks just before sunrise (08 March 2025).
Cross country skiing at Fort Tuthill Park in Flagstaff (08 March 2025).
Cross country skiing at Fort Tuthill Park in Flagstaff (08 March 2025).
Grasses poke through the snow at Fort Tuthill Park (08 March 2025).
Grasses poke through the snow at Fort Tuthill Park (08 March 2025).

14 March 2025

Low clouds race across the Mormon Lake area (14 March 2025).
Low clouds race across the Mormon Lake area (14 March 2025).
Snow covers the tables and benches at a picnic area at Upper Lake Mary near Flagstaff, Arizona (14 March 2025).
Snow covers the tables and benches at a picnic area at Upper Lake Mary near Flagstaff, Arizona (14 March 2025).

15 March 2025

The clouds departed but winds increased resulting in plumes of blowing snow over the San Francisco Peaks (15 March 2025).
The clouds departed but winds increased resulting in plumes of blowing snow over the San Francisco Peaks (15 March 2025).

Then it got warm and everything melted. But the forecast indicates that snow is likely this week so time to get some more photographs.

A Foggy Morning in Sedona

A sea of fog surrounds Cathedral Rock in Sedona, Arizona.
A sea of fog surrounds Cathedral Rock in Sedona, Arizona.

It’s been a quiet winter with very few storms so when we finally got a storm  I wanted to try and get some morning sunrise fog shots. I awoke early to check radar and satellite data. I was both surprised and disappointed that my favorite locations appeared to be cloud and fog free. On the other hand, satellite data showed an extensive area of fog and low clouds near Sedona and into the Verde Valley. I quickly headed down Oak Creek Canyon to a location in Sedona that has a great view for these types of events.

A wide-angle shot with Cathedral Rock in the distance. A few minutes later the fog surged northward.
A wide-angle shot with Cathedral Rock in the distance. A few minutes later the fog surged northward.
Fog begins to wrap around red rock buttresses in Sedona.
Fog begins to wrap around red rock buttresses in Sedona.

At first the fog was fairly distant to the south and visibility was very good in all directions. I was able to see Cathedral Rock poking through the fog. But over the next few minutes the fog surged northward and soon I was in the thick of it with low visibility.

Fog and mist partially obscure the red rock buttresses in Sedona, Arizona.
Fog and mist partially obscure the red rock buttresses in Sedona, Arizona.
A zoomed-in shot of the fog obscuring the red rock in Sedona, Arizona.
A zoomed-in shot of the fog obscuring the red rock in Sedona, Arizona.

I headed to another viewpoint hoping there would be some sun shining through the fog. For a few minutes it did. And then the fog thickened again.

Overall I was pretty happy with the fog and photo session–especially since I haven’t had many chances this winter. And the weather forecast looks warm and dry. Boring.

A Winter Hike in West Fork Oak Creek Canyon–January 2025.

West Fork Oak Creek. This is the "Subway" section of the canyon.
West Fork Oak Creek. This is the “Subway” section of the canyon.

A week of cold overnight temperatures has allowed ice to form on West Fork of Oak Creek–so this was a good time to hike the canyon. Winter visitation is fairly light so getting a parking spot is easy and we encountered only a handful of hikers on the trail. So it is definitly more enjoyable in the winter.

Icicles hang from the canyon wall in West Fork Oak Creek.
Icicles hang from the canyon wall in West Fork Oak Creek.
There are no waterfalls in West Fork Oak Creek. This is the closest thing with a small cascade of water pouring over the sandstone.
There are no waterfalls in West Fork Oak Creek. This is the closest thing with a small cascade of water pouring over the sandstone.
Intricate designs in the ice abound in the canyon. This was also an attempt at focus stacking.
Intricate designs in the ice abound in the canyon. This was also an attempt at focus stacking.

There was ice on the creek but there was also open areas of running water. It required some care making the numerous stream crossings to step on logs or rocks and not to put too much weight on the ice. A big difference from previous winter hikes was the lack of snow. Although we carried foot traction devices (i.e., Kahtoola microspikes) we did not need them.

At the “Subway”, a narrow, high-walled section of the canyon with wall-to-wall water, the ice was probably not thick enough to ensure safe passage through this section. Some of it was firm but there was still open water in the middle of the channel. Opting for safety, we let this be our turn-around spot.

There are several cliffs in the canyon with significant water seeps. Water drips from the large icicles and refreezes at the ground creating free-standing ice stalactives as well as encasing grasses and small stems in strange and bizarre shapes.

There are several cliffs in the canyon with significant water seeps. Water drips from the large icicles and then refreezes at the ground creating free-standing ice stalactites as well as encasing grasses and small stems in strange and bizarre shapes.

Ice sculpture from dripping icicles above.
Ice sculpture from dripping icicles above.
Detailed view of ice crystals in West Fork Oak Creek.
Detailed view of ice crystals in West Fork Oak Creek.

I looked back at the many times we have done this in the winter and the conclusion that I can draw is that it requires multiple nights of sub-zero temperatures (generally -5 to -10°F or colder) to produce safe ice. The recent cold temperatures were single-digit readings but above zero. Not cold enough.

——————————————————————————————————————————

Here are some older entries about hiking West Fork in the winter: