Monsoon Microburst Hits Oro Valley Country Club

Did the Wicked Witch of the West land in Tucson? Am I in Kansas? Oh my gosh, the first 2007 monsoon storm arrived with a vengeance in Oro Valley, more specifically at the Oro Valley Country Club on July 18th and I must say I have never seen anything like this before! I have experienced intense 7.0 earthquakes in Alaska but to drive home and see over 60 trees scattered all over the golf course was heart

wrenching.

It was approximately 5:15 pm when the menacing sky raced through the Oro Valley Country Club with 60 to 65 mph winds with torrential rains. I found out later we just experienced a rare tropical microburst which transformed the Oro Valley Country Club landscape in less than 30 minutes. Eucalyptus, Mesquite, Palo Verde and Aleppo Pine trees ranging in heights of 45’ to 60’ didn’t have a fighting chance to withstand the muscle of this unique storm.

As I drove by the country club, I remember saying over and over “What just happened?” A downed

tree forced me to go around the backside of the course when I encountered another obstacle, flooded

streets. I slowly navigated home hoping not to flood the engine.

This picturesque golf course built in 1959 and is nestled next to the Catalina Mountains; survived 47 monsoon seasons just suffered its first major loss.

Why am I so passionate about our trees? Well,

• They provide relief from our scorching heat
• An appreciative golf ball ricochet making it safely back onto the fairway
• Home to harris hawks, great horned owls, vermilion flycatchers, finches, an occasional bobcat and raccoons.

We were lucky at our house since we only lost a few tree limbs and our neighbor’s

45’ tree just missed falling on our fountain. Unfortunately, others had to call their home insurance agents. Hmm, this may be a good time to review our policy.