<p>I came across an <a href="http://tucsoncitizen.com/morgue2/2003/09/20/20997-funeral-notices/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">obituary</a> for a distant cousin which mentions that he was a state climatologist who developed the "55/3 monsoon formula." </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>KANGIESER, Paul Carl, 1923 – 2003 Passed away September 15, 2003 after a long battle with cancer. Born in Topeka, lived in LA as a child. Served in the U.S. Army for four years in WWII. <strong>As state Climatologist of AZ he developed the 55/3 monsoon formula.</strong></p>
</blockquote>

<p>I searched Google and couldn't find any formulas related to monsoons known as the "55/3 formula", but I did find <a href="https://www.azfamily.com/weather/phoenix_weather_blog/monsoon-season-the-dew-point-dilemma/article_45060ef3-873f-5128-a7dd-fea3b7a545f6.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this news article</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>In 2008, The National Weather Service in Phoenix decided to make a big change. For decades, the monsoon was said to have started after <strong>three</strong> consecutive days with a dew point of <strong>55</strong> degrees of higher.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>What is the 55/3 monsoon formula?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-26T04:13:25.910Z
I have no familiarity with that, nor much focus on monsoon rainfall... but sounds like a reasonable rule of thumb out there... so that would make sense to be it, what you found.
JeopardyTempest
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-26T04:20:05.053Z
Couldn't find anything about a monsoon formula, but he did have some [journal articles back in the day](https://journals.ametsoc.org/action/doSearch?AllField=kangieser&pageSize=20&startPage=1).
JeopardyTempest
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-26T23:01:43.683Z
Another ref on slide 22 in this [powerpoint](http://www.atmo.arizona.edu/~swhs/Presentations/FriAM2/J_Skindlov_SW4HYMET_True_Monsoon_Sep_2007_v3.ppt)
mkennedy
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-27T06:02:27.690Z
Seems an answer to me @mkennedy, as it ties the formula into Kangieser, and gives more thorough explanation of what applies.  Doesn't officially call it the 55/3 formula, but goes into enough detail.  Not sure anyone is going to find better, and would be tough to find forecasters around from the era to help verify.
JeopardyTempest
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-05T23:10:59.047Z
@mkennedy, I agree that the reference on slide 22 seems to be the fullest explanation available. If you make that an answer I would accept it.
lizziv
<monsoon>
What is the 55/3 Monsoon Formula?
lizziv
# What is the 55/3 Monsoon Formula?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-10-26)

I came across an [obituary](http://tucsoncitizen.com/morgue2/2003/09/20/20997-funeral-notices/) for a distant cousin which mentions that he was a state climatologist who developed the "55/3 monsoon formula."

> KANGIESER, Paul Carl, 1923 – 2003 Passed away September 15, 2003 after a long battle with cancer. Born in Topeka, lived in LA as a child. Served in the U.S. Army for four years in WWII. **As state Climatologist of AZ he developed the 55/3 monsoon formula.**

I searched Google and couldn't find any formulas related to monsoons known as the "55/3 formula", but I did find [this news article](https://www.azfamily.com/weather/phoenix_weather_blog/monsoon-season-the-dew-point-dilemma/article_45060ef3-873f-5128-a7dd-fea3b7a545f6.html):

> In 2008, The National Weather Service in Phoenix decided to make a big change. For decades, the monsoon was said to have started after **three** consecutive days with a dew point of **55** degrees of higher.

What is the 55/3 monsoon formula?

**Tags:** monsoon

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I have no familiarity with that, nor much focus on monsoon rainfall... but sounds like a reasonable rule of thumb out there... so that would make sense to be it, what you found.  
> **username_1**: Couldn't find anything about a monsoon formula, but he did have some [journal articles back in the day](https://journals.ametsoc.org/action/doSearch?AllField=kangieser&pageSize=20&startPage=1).  
> **username_2**: Another ref on slide 22 in this [powerpoint](http://www.atmo.arizona.edu/~swhs/Presentations/FriAM2/J_Skindlov_SW4HYMET_True_Monsoon_Sep_2007_v3.ppt)  
> **username_1**: Seems an answer to me @username_2, as it ties the formula into Kangieser, and gives more thorough explanation of what applies.  Doesn't officially call it the 55/3 formula, but goes into enough detail.  Not sure anyone is going to find better, and would be tough to find forecasters around from the era to help verify.  
> **username_0**: @username_2, I agree that the reference on slide 22 seems to be the fullest explanation available. If you make that an answer I would accept it.  

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## 0 answers

