Passing Storm

The summer months of July and August, and sometimes the first half of September bring what is known as “monsoon season” to the desert southwest.

A flow of moisture-laden air moves north out of Mexico and pervades the desert regions for days bringing life-giving waters to plants and animals alike. Sometimes, they also bring death and destruction through massive flash floods that sweep down through narrow canyons. The abundant heavenly waters do not stop at desert’s edge either, continuing into the mountain zones as well. We have spent multiple days in a mountain location huddled in a cramped tent waiting for the rains to stop.
 
This photo was taken on a late August morning after a few days of strong, monsoonal thunderstorms had hung over the Grand Valley. Early that morning, low clouds left over from a night of rain still hung over the Colorado National Monument, draping themselves gently over the high cliffs. Grabbing a camera, I rushed in my vehicle, driving up into the Monument and selecting a location from which to photograph. By then, the departing storm clouds had risen above the cliffs and were gracing the clear blue sky with their puffy shades of white and gray while the later morning sun bathed the Monument cliffs in brilliant earth-tone hues.
HDR photo taken late August, 2014.