Notes from an Applied Climatologist: Monsoon & El Niño Q&A
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Is the strong start to the monsoon related to El Niño?
What can we expect from the monsoon (in AZ & NM) with El Niño waiting in the wings? (read more)
Monthly Archive
1075' - Shortage on the Colorado River Ep. 3 - Shortage Impacts on the CAP
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
1075’ – Shortage on the Colorado River is a CLIMAS podcast series that explores what the first shortage declaration on the Colorado River would mean to those living in the Southwest.
In this episode, CLIMAS climate scientist Zack Guido and Mohammed Mahmoud, planning analyst with the Colorado River Programs department at the Central Arizona Project (CAP), discuss the CAP and its role in delivering Colorado River water throughout Arizona, as well as how a shortage would impact the CAP system. (read more)
Southwest Climate Podcast: Strong Start for the Monsoon & Groundhog Day for El Niño Forecasts
Thursday, July 24, 2014
In the July Southwest Climate Podcast, CLIMAS climate scientists Zack Guido and Mike Crimmins talk about the solid start to the monsoon, and seemingly inevitable monsoon breaks (like we just experienced). They also discuss the "inevitability" of this fickle El Niño event. There’s a feeling of Groundhog Day with these forecasts—and there continues to be uncertainty regarding the strength and duration of this El Niño event. (read more)
1075' - Shortage on the Colorado River - Podcast Ep. 2 - Stressors on the River
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
1075’ – Shortage on the Colorado River is a CLIMAS podcast series that explores what the first shortage declaration on the Colorado River would mean to those living in the Southwest.
In this episode, CLIMAS climate scientist Zack Guido hosts three University of Arizona experts, Bonnie Colby, George Frisvold and Kiyomi Morino, to discuss water supply and demand in the Colorado River basin. This podcast explores stressors on the Colorado River Basin, how these stressors may change over time, and how these changes may affect management and behaviors across the Southwest.(read more)
El Niño Watch - July 18, 2014
Friday, July 18, 2014
Southwest Climate Outlook July 2014
Friday, July 18, 2014
The Southwest Climate Outlook is published on the third Thursday of every month, and focuses on the climate & weather patterns for the SW more generally, and Arizona and New Mexico in particular. This month's issue includes sections on precipitation and temperature for the past month or so, reservoir totals for AZ & NM, drought and monsoon trends, a summary of the fire season, an El Niño watch, and a look forward at the precipitation and temperature outlook for the next 30-90 days (read more).
Monsoon Summary (June 15 - July 15)
Friday, July 18, 2014
A summary of the monsoon activity - June 15 - July 15 (read more)
Notes From the Field: Thinking Outside the Box with Great Basin Natural Resource Managers
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
On June 25-27, 2014, a team of researchers from CLIMAS and the California-Nevada Applications Program (CNAP) convened a workshop at the Desert Research Institute in Reno, NV. The goal? We wanted to address the complex and uncertain future of Great Basin land management in the Central Great Basin (California and Nevada), and to provide state and federal agency partners with streamlined and purposeful means of incorporating climate change information into land management practice. (read more)
1075' - Shortage on the Colorado River, A CLIMAS Podcast Series
Monday, July 14, 2014
1075’ – Shortage on the Colorado River is a CLIMAS podcast series that explores what the first shortage declaration on the Colorado River would mean to those living in the Southwest.
In this episode, we take a broad view of the Colorado River Basin, exploring how the river is managed, who uses the water, and what a potential shortage could mean for the system. Our guest is Doug Kenney, Director of the Western Water Policy Program, a division of the Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy and the Environment, at the University of Colorado School of Law. (read more)
Notes from an Applied Climatologist - June 2014 Rainlog Climate Summary
Thursday, July 10, 2014
June was a hot and dry month across Arizona with little in the way of precipitation and lots in the way of wind and extreme fire weather. This isn’t all that unusual for June in Arizona, but temperatures were exceptionally warm and passing weather systems brought unwelcome wind which periodically enhanced fire danger to extreme levels. The weather pattern throughout the month was a battle between the strengthening sub-tropical high to our south and late season spring storm pushing through the Southwest from the north. (read more)
Climate Change Scenario Planning in Central New Mexico
Monday, July 7, 2014
Reporting on Future Regional Climate and Related Impacts for the Central New Mexico Climate Change Scenario Planning Project (read more)
Arizona Facing High Fire Danger a Year After Yarnell
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
It was one year ago that lightning struck and ignited the Yarnell Hill Fire, a devastating wildfire that resulted in the deaths of 19 firefighters who were members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots. This year, a combination of drought conditions, high winds and high temperatures all call for an intense fire season. Predictions indicate above-normal fire potential, and indicators suggest the onset of the monsoon season will be delayed.
Since October, we've had very low precipitation – averaging less than half of average across large portions of the state – accompanied by low snowpack and temperatures that have been well above average.
The combination of these factors, along with bursts of dry winds that are typical for the spring, gives us conditions of above-normal fire potential, which is what the Southwest Coordination Center, the main fire prediction center for our region, predicted beginning in late January. (read more)