HAZARDS OF SEASONAL MONSOON
State and federal agencies advise people to be aware of the daily weather forecast and take extra care when camping or hiking
Flooded arroyos and drainage channels are an obvious danger, but there are a number of other hazards associated with our monsoon rains, local and federal agencies warn.
Rapidly flooding arroyos and drainage channels may present the most obvious danger during New Mexico’s monsoon season, but there are a number of other hazards associated with our monsoon storms, which usually bring about half of our average annual rainfall.
On Tuesday, several local, state and federal agencies held a joint news conference to talk about safety during the monsoon season, which runs from about mid-June through the end of September.
In addition to swift water, monsoon dangers include lightning, fires, downburst winds, dust storms and heat stress.
Shawn Bennett, meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service in Albuquerque, said forecasts call for near to slightly above average precipitation across New Mexico for the upcoming monsoon season.
“To stay safe, residents should be weather aware and cognizant of what the daily forecast is calling for so you know about the potential hazards and how to react,” he said.
People might want to remember the simple rhyme: “When thunder roars, go indoors.” Where there is thunder, there is lightning and being indoors provides protection. Lightning strikes not only injure and kill people, but they can also trigger fires, he said.
Another ditty, “turn around, don’t drown,” is advice on what to do when a flooded and running arroyo crosses a road or a trail.
“You can’t know how deep or fast a flooded arroyo is when you enter it,” Bennett said.
Monsoon season also affects outdoor forest recreation, said Julie Anne Overton, public information officer for the Santa Fe National Forest.
“That stream or river bank may look like an enticing place to set up camp, but check the ground and look at the landscape,” she said. “There will be areas where water flows if it rains and you don’t want to camp in those spots, so move to higher ground and make sure your tent is on the same side of the river as the trail because you don’t want to get trapped on the wrong side.”
Hikers, Overton said, should pay attention to the sky. “If you see big thunderheads forming, it’s time to head back downhill because if you’re outdoors and not in shelter, you are at risk of a lighting strike,” she said.
She added that it’s not uncommon for there to be 1,000 lightning hits on the Santa Fe forest during a monsoon season weekend.
Karen Takai, a spokeswoman for the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, said people should have a personal or family safety plan in place in the event of a disaster. This should include an evacuation go-bag with prescription drugs, important papers and other essential items. Also prepare a go-bag for your pets, she suggested, and make sure your home insurance is current and know if it covers flooding.
Staying hydrated, wearing loose-fitted clothing, wearing sunscreen and limiting outdoor activities to the coolest parts of the day can help avoid over exposure to the sun’s heat.