If you are unfamiliar with the weather patterns in the Grand Canyon, you may not know that there is a monsoon season that can produce strong winds, thunder, severe lightning and torrential rains. This weather can sometimes even result in flash flooding and water accumulation in low-lying areas. Before you check out the available flights to the Grand Canyon, you should consider the weather during the time of year you are planning to take your vacation.
Summertime showers
The Arizona and Grand Canyon monsoon season typically falls between mid-June and mid-September. This means that if you are planning a summer vacation to the Canyon, you may want to plan accordingly and prepare yourself for a possible storm. To be safe, make sure to bring a poncho and closed-toed shoes if you plan on checking out the Grand Canyon during the summertime. Storms usually occur between the hours of 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., so take caution between these times of the day during the summer months. Try to get to the Grand Canyon early and be done with your hiking by 11 a.m. to avoid potential storms.
National park service warnings
The Grand Canyon Nation Park Service warns that the lightning that often accompanies summertime storms can be dangerous, so there are some precautions you should take to keep yourself safe. If you are walking or hiking in the park and you hear thunder, seek shelter as soon as you can to ensure your safety.
If there is thunder followed immediately by a flash of lightning, you should find shelter in a vehicle or a building immediately. If it isn’t possible to get to a vehicle or a building, make sure you stay far away from any high areas such as ridges or the canyon edge. Never seek shelter beneath tall trees and keep away from large metal poles.
How to plan accordingly
If you have the time to plan for more than one day at the Grand Canyon, try to do so in case of storms that could shorten your days exploring and hiking. Try and schedule your tour for the first day of your vacation, just in case it ends up being cancelled due to the weather.
If the storms prevent you from being outdoors, you can still plan to visit the museums and historic indoor locations at the South Rim. Whatever the case, there is plenty to see at the Grand Canyon, rain or shine.