Monday, July 18, 2005 - Nassau West International Airport has been shut down due to weather three times in as many days. Saturday, the airport was closed for about 45 minutes, while Sunday, the airport was down for about 2½ hours. On Sunday the airport lost power, phone and DSL service temporarily.

Tonight, the airport was only shut down for about ten minutes. It wasn't the weather at the Capitol causing the problem. The crisis was caused by weather near Tucson that Nassau West President Kelly K. Bartram was traveling through. Nassau West One experienced weather-related complications and the airport was cleared for the President's arrival.

Shortly after departing from a meeting at a trucking company in Tucson, Nassau West One encountered severe weather including wind, rain, lighting, and even hail. At 8:20 PM the US National Weather Service (NWS) issued a severe thunderstorm warning, including dime-sized hail, for Pima County.

By the time this warning was issued, Nassau West One was already enjoying the inclement weather. Heavy rain had limited visibility to just about nothing, and wind was throwing Nassau West One around like a rag doll. At one point, due to "hydroplaning," Nassau West One's power failed.

At approximately 8:26 PM, Nassau West One was slowed to about 35 miles per hour (in a 75 mile per hour zone) because of heavy wind and rain. The vehicle started to veer too far to the right side and the pilot throttled up, to no avail. Nassau West One was unable to gain traction and failed to accelerate.

The helpless craft continued to slow until traction was finally attained and then was finally brought back up to 75 miles per hour for the remainder of the trip to the Capitol, without further incident. The President arrived safely at Nassau West International Airport Runway 36 at 8:55 PM.

This being the third consecutive day of wet weather in the afternoon and evening has caused the Nassau West Weather Service (NWWS) to declare the monsoon season has begun. The (US) National Weather Service has yet to make such a formal announcement. Both weather agencies are predicting a rather mild monsoon season this year, however, the NWWS is having second thoughts.

During Sunday's barrage, the Copper Creek Recreation Area, which is still under construction between the Capitol and the Benson Embassy, was washed out again. The Nassau West Sheriff's Department and Department of Transportation were diverting flood waters around delicate plants.

The "Peace Bridge," which has not been built yet, no longer has a foundation, as that was swept away in the torrent yesterday. Orange cones greet passersby on either side of the washed out path. Currently, a large crevasse remains in the pathway. The Department of Transportation is planning to repair the damage this weekend.

All of this is reminiscent of last year when this very same area flooded and washed away repeatedly. According to sources with the Department of the Interior, the Copper Creek Recreation Area is set to be completed by the end of this year. With its completion, hopefully the flooding will become a thing of the past.