In the February episode of the CLIMAS Southwest Climate Podcast, Zack Guido is back, and he and Mike Crimmins sit down to talk, you guessed it, El Niño.  They recap what we've seen over the past month, and take a closer look at whether this El Niño event is actually underperforming, whether expectations were set too high going into the season (Godzilla, etc.), and what we might expect for the upcoming month if we can ever break out of this high pressure system.

In the February episode of the CLIMAS Southwest Climate Podcast, Zack Guido is back, and he and Mike Crimmins sit down to talk, you guessed it, El Niño. & They recap what we've seen over the past month, and take a closer look at whether this El Niño event is actually underperforming, whether expectations were set too high going into the season (Godzilla, etc.), and what we might expect for the upcoming month if we can ever break out of this high pressure system.& &

In the January 2016 episode of the CLIMAS Southwest Climate Podcast, Mike Crimmins and Ben McMahan** recap the transitional weather patterns of the last few months of 2015 as we moved from Fall into Winter, and discuss whether this transitional season matched general expectations, given what is expected in an El Niño year.  They also discuss what a characteristic southwestern winter pattern looks like, and conclude the podcast with a conversation about how this El Niño event has stacked up so far this winter, and what they anticipate over the next few months.

*We had a small technical difficulty with the audio quality that delayed publication until today, but the conversation is still timely/relevant especially considering the general break in winter storm activity we've seen since early January (Jan 31 notwithstanding).

**Zack Guido is away on a research project but will join us again in February.

CLIMAS Member(s):  

Ben McMahan

Michael Crimmins

In the& January 2016& episode of the CLIMAS Southwest Climate Podcast, Mike Crimmins and Ben McMahan** recap the transitional weather patterns of the last few months of 2015 as we moved from Fall into Winter, and discuss whether this transitional season matched general expectations, given what is expected& in an El Niño year.& They also discuss what a characteristic southwestern winter pattern looks like, and conclude the podcast with a conversation about how this El Niño event has stacked up so far this winter, and what they anticipate over the next few months.

*We had a small technical difficulty with the audio quality that delayed publication until today, but the conversation is still timely/relevant especially considering& the general break in winter storm activity we've seen since early January (Jan 31 notwithstanding).

**Zack Guido is away on a research project but will join us again in February.

CLIMAS Member(s): &

Ben McMahan

Michael Crimmins

In the December episode of the CLIMAS Southwest Climate Podcast Mike Crimmins and Zack Guido discuss the difficulty of characterizing a climate phenomenon (in this case El Niño) on a weather time scale, which is made difficult by the highly variable transition season we see in the Southwest in October and November.  This difficulty is especially salient as media, the general public, and climate scientists are all hungry for explanations as to whether day to day events fit into larger climate patterns (i.e. is this an El NIño related impact or not!?). They also go over the recent events of October, November, and early December, before looking forward at what the seasonal forecasts suggest is likely in store for this Winter (hint: all signs still point to a wetter than average winter!).

In the December episode of the CLIMAS Southwest Climate Podcast Mike Crimmins and Zack Guido discuss& the difficulty of characterizing a climate phenomenon (in this case El Niño) on a weather time scale, which is made difficult by the highly variable transition season we see in the Southwest in October and November. & This difficulty is especially salient& as media, the general public, and climate scientists are all hungry for explanations as to whether& day to day events fit into larger climate patterns (i.e. is this an El NIño related impact or not!?). They also go over the recent events of October, November, and early December, before looking forward at what the seasonal forecasts suggest is likely in& store for& this Winter (hint: all signs still point to a wetter than average winter!).&

In the Nov 2015 episode of the CLIMAS Southwest Climate Podcast, Zack Guido and Mike Crimmins look back on an anomalously wet October, and in particular the effect of one system that made two visits to the Southwest.  They also talk about Hurricane Patricia, and the speed at which that tropical system escalated to one of the strongest storms on record.  They also talk about October weather in terms of the seasonal transition (between monsoon summer and fall/winter patterns) and the impact of tropical storm systems, as well as the difficulty of attributing specific weather events to longer term patterns (i.e. the El Niño Southern Oscillation).  They wrap up by talking about El Niño and the seasonal forecasts, which include projections of above average precipitation in the southwest, as well as a number of global impacts.

In the Nov 2015 episode of the CLIMAS Southwest Climate Podcast, Zack Guido and Mike Crimmins look back on an anomalously wet October, and in particular the effect of one system that made two visits to the Southwest. & They also talk about Hurricane Patricia, and the speed at which that tropical system escalated to one of the strongest storms on record. & They also talk about October weather in terms of the seasonal transition (between monsoon summer and fall/winter patterns) and the impact of tropical storm systems, as well as the difficulty of attributing specific weather events to longer term patterns (i.e. the& El Niño Southern Oscillation). & They wrap up by talking about El Niño and the seasonal forecasts, which include projections of above average precipitation in the southwest, as well as a number of global impacts. &

In this episode of The Southwest Climate Podcast, Mike Crimmins & Zack Guido recap the 2015 monsoon, (and revisit some of their predictions from earlier this summer).

In part 1, they give a quick overview of the monsoon, before taking a closer look at the month by month progression, to track the overall season for what stood out (and what was underwhelming).  

In part 2, they talk about nuances associated with the monsoon, including the impacts of El Niño, and eastern pacific tropical storm activity.  

They conclude with a discussion of the variable nature of  the monsoon, and what makes this such an exciting place to live as we watch the season unfold.

The Southwest Climate Podcast is a production of CLIMAS - Climate Assessment for the Southwest.  CLIMAS is part of the NOAA Regional Integrated Science and Assessment program, and is focused on climate research, communication, and outreach in Arizona & New Mexico, and is housed at the University of Arizona Institute of the Environment.  Mike Crimmins is a principle investigator with CLIMAS, a professor of Soil, Water and Environmental Science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and climate extension specialist with the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension.  Zack Guido is a research scientist with the Institute of the Environment and UA program manager of the International Research and Applications Program (IRAP).  The podcast is edited and produced by Ben McMahan; Research, Outreach, and Assessment Specialist with CLIMAS. ​

In this episode of The Southwest Climate Podcast, Mike Crimmins & Zack Guido recap the 2015 monsoon, (and& revisit some of their predictions from earlier this summer).

In part 1, they give a quick overview of the monsoon, before taking a closer look at the month by month progression, to track the overall& season for what stood out (and what was underwhelming). &

In part 2, they talk about& nuances associated with the monsoon, including the impacts of El Niño, and eastern pacific tropical storm activity. &

They conclude with a discussion of the variable nature of & the monsoon, and what makes this such an exciting place to live as we watch the season unfold.

The Southwest Climate Podcast is a production of CLIMAS - Climate Assessment for the Southwest.& CLIMAS is part of the NOAA Regional Integrated Science and Assessment program, and is focused on climate research, communication, and outreach in Arizona & New Mexico, and is housed at the University of Arizona Institute of the Environment.& Mike Crimmins is a principle investigator with CLIMAS, a professor of Soil, Water and Environmental Science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and climate extension specialist with the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension.& Zack Guido is a research scientist with the Institute of the Environment and UA program manager of the International Research and Applications Program (IRAP).& The podcast is edited and produced by Ben McMahan; Research, Outreach, and Assessment Specialist with CLIMAS.& ​&