July 31, 2012 / Modified aug 1, 2012 2:39 p.m.

Strong Monsoon May Linger, Expert Says

So far, this year’s summer rains have delivered record-breaking amounts -- but will they last?

The monsoon is an exciting time for many in Southern Arizona, and the local ecosystem is dependent upon the season for the majority of its annual rainfall.

This year, the monsoon rain arrived right on schedule, just after June 15th. So far, it has brought record rainfall to the region. But will it last?

J. J. Brost, science and operations officer for the National Weather Service in Tucson, says there are many factors that make the annual monsoon such an interesting time for a meteorologist.

The strong start was exactly what Brost and his colleagues at the National Weather Service were expecting, he says, based on a pattern of weather systems that came together in the monsoon's favor.

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