November 16, 2008 Weekend Weather Trivia: Arroyo ahead, use caution!
If you're driving through the desert Southwest, you might see road sign cautioning you of an "arroyo". So...what should you watch out for? A dust storm? A passing tornado? A scary spider?
(ABOVE: photo courtesy: Alameda Creek Alliance: The usually dry "Arroyo Mocho" can flood rapidly after upstream rainfall)
I first heard the term years ago when I lived in West Texas. In the late 1990s, I was the Chief Meteorologist for a television station in Abilene, and I was quickly treated to desert weather slang.
Some localized weather terms like "duster" or "dust storm" are obvious. Other words, such as "arroyo", can be a head scratcher.
An "arroyo" is a flatish, usually dry creek bed. These temporary creeks are found in desert areas and can wiggle through towns and park settings. You'll hear the term arroyo the closer you get to New Mexico and Arizona.
Arroyos are prone to rapid flooding, especially those downstream from canyons. In fact you might hear an "Arroyo and Small Stream Flooding Advisory" from the National Weather Service.
If you're reading this before today's newscast, then you can impress your friends because you'll know the WWT answer ahead of time, and better your chances to win a Weather Alert radio!
For your chance to a win a Weather Alert radio, email your guess to weekendamshow@kjrh.com when I show the question on TV (though I just posted the answer above!) Your name, city and correct guess is all you need to send us.
Join Deana and me this Sunday morning on "Channel 2 News Weekend Mornings" from 9-10am, as "Weather Words" will be the topic for Weekend Weather Trivia.
Thanks for watching! GF