Storm Tracker

I've lived in AZ for over fifteen years now.
I've weathered fifteen monsoon seasons. I've loved every single one.
And I've NEVER seen anything like yesterday.

First, a disclaimer from the administrator:  Blogger is being stubborn.  Anyone else having trouble uploading video?  Anyone else having trouble uploading portrait-oriented photos?  I'm bugged, Blogger.  Very bugged.  So, instead of actually having video here on my blog, you need to click the links below to youtube.  It was either that or deprive you of the storm.  Sorry for the inconvenience.

This was the front door view. Notice all the smelly cow manure covering the newly scalped and seeded lawn?
Every seed was washed away.
front yard

And here is what happened in the back.
back yard

Here's the aftermath:

This is our sidewalk. The water line was about 10-12 inches above the gutter.

We lost both of our arches--yanked straight out of the ground and blown around the yard.

Like the pool umbrella? That might have reached the point of no return.

And look at all the leaves in the pool. Officially, Mesa received 1.75 inches of rain yesterday--with half an inch in 30 minutes alone. I remember 2.73 inches being our official total for the YEAR one year. This is the desert, people! We don't know what to do with water!

I rode my bike around the neighborhood this morning, and I can't believe how many trees are down, retention basins brimming, debris in the street.
Lucky for us, it's clear today--time for a little football!  Go, Poston!