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Monsoon Season?

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From the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the definition of monsoon is as follows: 

monsoon noun
mon·​soon | \ män-ˈsün  , ˈmän-ˌsün \
Definition of monsoon
1: a periodic wind especially in the Indian Ocean and southern Asia
2: the season of the southwest monsoon in India and adjacent areas that is characterized by very heavy rainfall
3: rainfall that is associated with the monsoon
After the tantalizing precipitation falling the past week and a half across the parched region, community members across Southeast New Mexico might be wondering if the third week in June kicked off the yearly monsoon season. For those non-natives of Southeast New Mexico who might be wondering if a monsoon season could possibly exist in the Chihuahuan Desert, the answer is yes. Locals to the region refer to the rainy months in the desert as a monsoon. Typically, the word monsoon refers to the rainy, wet season in India and Southeast Asia, but here in this part of the desert Southwest rainfall is also common in the later months of summer so the word “monsoon” is shared between the radically different geographic locations.  
 
Historically, July and August begin the rainy months in Southeast New Mexico, but the rain in June brings welcome relief from scorching temperatures and fierce fire season this year. Looking for more weather and precipitation data? Check out the Weather Underground for detailed records: Artesia, NM Weather History | Weather Underground (wunderground.com)

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