Column By Mike Bibb
Recently took this picture of an impressive afternoon cloud formation over the San Simon Valley in southeastern Graham County.
The structures are Eastern Arizona College’s Discovery Park Campus, on the corner of 20th Avenue and Discovery Park Boulevard, just south of Safford.
Afternoon and early evening winds and sputtering raindrops are usually a good indication that our summer rains are gradually approaching.
According to weather forecasters and television meteorologists, a healthy El Niño is developing in the eastern Pacific Ocean — meaning the waters are warming more than usual. Which, in turn, will produce greater chances of a wet summer. (see my article “El Niño and Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’Apai,” Gila Herald, April 1, 2026.)
Or, so the story goes.
Whatever the situation, after going through a nearly moisture-absent “Winter that wasn’t,” with little snowpack on Mount Graham and the surrounding areas, a couple of substantial manna from Heaven downpours would be welcomed.
However, with at least one caveat: If possible, it’d be nice if the Rain Gods could avoid inflicting too much of a good thing.
I’m sure cotton farmers, merchants, homeowners, and insurance providers would be extremely grateful.
