Sea surface temperature (SST) forecasts show cooling across the equatorial Pacific (Fig. 1), extending the pattern of the last few months (Fig. 2). La Niña conditions are now considered to be present by most major outlooks. These conditions are forecast to remain a La Niña event through winter 2020. (Read More)
Monthly Precipitation and Temperature: August precipitation ranged between record driest and below average in most of Arizona and New Mexico (Fig. 1a). August temperatures were record warmest in all of Arizona and much of New Mexico (Fig. 1b). The daily average temperature anomalies for Aug 1 – Sept 15 (Fig. 2) highlight the fluctuations at select stations around the region, including the very warm temperatures in most of August and early September, as well as the steep drop in temperatures across the Southwest in the second week of September. (Read More)
