Advertise on podcast: CLIMAS - Southwest Climate Podcast

Recorded 10/01/2026, Aired 10/02/2026    In this special edition of the Southwest Climate Podcast, we have a two-fer: 2026 Monsoon Recap and guest Glenn Lader NWS.  After going out with a bang with a fetch of East Pacific moisture from Hurricane Polo earlier this week, hosts Zack Guido and Mike Crimmins put a bow on the official end of the 2026 Monsoon. At the 55:00 minute mark they bring in Glenn Lader, Lead Meteorologist at the National Weather Service Tucson office, to talk about their operations over this past monsoon.  Hear about how monsoon forecasting happens and how they work with partners to mitigate its impacts in the region.  Next month’s episode will be focused on the strong El Niño that has been all in the news.      Mentions: Southwest U.S. Summer Monsoon Season Precipitation Mapping Southwest U.S. Station Climate Summaries Experimental: North American Monsoon Tracker Colorado State University - Hurricane Seasonal Forecasting  NWS Tucson - Monsoon Tracker NOAA NWS - Storm Prediction Center NOAA NWS - Weather Prediction Center

Recorded 08/13/2026, Aired 08/14/2026 Hosts Zack Guido and Mike Crimmins get out their mood rings in this month’s Southwest Climate Podcast to share their frustration and disappointment in the monsoon so far. They do a deep dive into the characteristics of the monsoon including: the late onset, spatial pattern and population density bias (at least in sentiment).  Will the east Pacific fire up a few tropical systems as far as where the monsoon goes from here? They save time at the end on the bananas El Niño which is unprecedented already and is sure to bring an interesting fall to winter seasonal pattern.     Mentions: RainLog UA WRF Weather Forecast Discussions University of Arizona's Weather Research and Forecasting Model (UA WRF) Southwest U.S. Summer Monsoon Season Precipitation Mapping Tucson.com "Did global helium crisis ground Tucson weather balloon flights?" Southwest Monsoon Fantasy Forecasts NOAA Climate Prediction Center - RONI The Climate Brink - ENSO Dashboard Dr. Daniel Swain's Weather West channel Super El Niño Drives an August Weather Shift as Fall and Winter Signals Strengthen ECMWF Seasonal Forecast

Recorded 07/10/2026, Aired 07/14/2026 In this month’s Southwest Climate Podcast, hosts Zack Guido and Mike Crimmins say ‘get ready’ for an interesting monsoon.  Although the onset has had a sluggish start, the weekend into this week shows promise for a more active pattern in July.  They review the precipitation event that happened at the start of the monsoon on 6/15 as well as the characteristics thus far.  Also discussed is the strong El Niño taking shape and its influence in the region. Expectations are leaning toward a more optimistic yet not normal monsoon.  Mentions: NWS-Tucson: Monsoon Tracker Southwest U.S. Summer Monsoon Season Precipitation Mapping CyclonicWx: Model Run - 500mb Height Anomaly - July 2026 Pivotal Weather: Model Run - Precipital Water  Southwest U.S. Station Climate Summaries NOAA NWS Climate Prediction Center: Outlooks

Recorded 06/17/2026, Aired 06/18/2026 Hosts Zack Guido and Mike Crimmins kick off the 2026 Monsoon in this month’s episode of the Southwest Climate Podcast.  The timing couldn’t have been better for a rainy official start date this past Monday.  They discuss the precipitation event and whether or not it was truly monsoonal.  This sets up the discussion for the upcoming monsoon forecast and how a ‘Super’ El Niño might make for an active, yet non-typical monsoon setup.  Lots of resources shared so that you can be ready to play the Monsoon Fantasy Forecast Game which starts at the end of this month - sign up today!     Mentions: The University of Arizona Hydrology & Atmospheric Sciences cloud camera NOAA Climate Prediction Center: Outlooks North American Multi-Model Ensemble (NMME) IRI Seasonal Climate Forecasts NOAA 2026 Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season Outlook NOAA Climate Prediction Center: ENSO NOAA - Physical Sciences Laboratory: Multivariate ENSO Index SW US Monsoon Precipitation Mapping - Past Seasons Tropical Tidbits: Forecast Models

Recorded 05/13/2026, Aired 06/09/2026   In this special edition of the Southwest Climate Podcast, hosts Zack Guido and Mike Crimmins have guest Chuck Maxwell join to talk about fire weather.  Chuck brings his multi-decadal subject matter expertise from the world of fire management and answers all the burning questions from our hosts.  Hear how fire management operations work in the Southwest and how climate conditions play into decision making.  You’ll also get to hear what this summer might look like for fire and if the monsoon will bring any relief.     Mentions: CLIMAS - Chuck Maxwell Profile NIFC - Southwest Coordination Center (SWCC) Website NIFC - National Interagency Coordination Center: Outlooks CLIMAS - Weather and Climate Information for Southwest Wildfire Management Southwest U.S. Burn Period Tracker

Welcome to this special episode of the Southwest Climate Podcast with guest hosts: Gigi Owen & Christina Greene.  In this special episode, we bring you 3 guests that were all part of the CLIMAS Environment & Society Fellowship program over the past year.  A lot of the science that CLIMAS researchers do is done collaboratively with and for our community partners so that the science that we do ends up being useful to decision-making and policy development and planning.  Our Fellowship program offers University of Arizona graduate students the opportunity to take this kind of collaborative approach to address environmental and societal problems.  Our fellows are here today to share more about their work and what they've been up to over the past year. 2025 CLIMAS Environment & Society Fellows Lois Ann Polashenski We Are All Impacted by Pollution Overlooked Impacts of Circular Economies: Copper Slag Repurposing in Cottonwood, Arizona Alyssa Rosenbaum From Lasagna to Lettuce: A Journey into Fresh Produce Safety Where Science and Community Meet A.G. Steig In Fire’s Footprint Ecological Fire with Prescribed Burn Associations Talitha Neesham-McTiernan (*Unable to attend podcast recording) Mapping the Missing Half? Mapping in the meantime: on community-engaged research when the ground shifts

Recorded 05/15/2026, Aired 05/19/2026 In this month’s Southwest Climate Podcast, hosts Zack Guido and Mike Crimmins answer what a strong El Niño could mean for the monsoon.  They do a quick recap of the first half of May.  And then it’s off to the races with a look at: sea surface temperatures in the Pacific, ONI vs. RONI, ENSO’s scientific history, monsoon and its interaction with East Pacific tropical activity, then finally a winter preview.  Should be a fun and interesting few seasons to watch unfold! Also, Zack gives a plug for the Monsoon Fantasy Forecast Game which will include a new weekly tournament feature this year. Mentions NOAA CPC - ENSO Strength Probabilities   Tropical Tidbits   WebberWeather   NOAA CPC - Outlooks   Google - Weather Lab: Cyclones    Paper “North American Monsoon Response to Antecedent Soil Moisture and Snow in the Colorado Plateau”   Paper “Tropical Ocean Contributions to California’s Surprisingly Dry El Niño of 2015/16”

Recorded 04/03/2026, Aired 04/07/2026 Hosts Zack Guido and Mike Crimmins go full coroner in this month’s episode of the Southwest Climate Podcast and do an autopsy of the record-setting March heat wave.  Expect fluid dynamics, conservation of angular momentum, and level of divergence type of nerding for this deep dive. They go over the heat impacts to snowpack and forecasted streamflow, and the end of month precipitation event which looked monsoonal.  Lastly there is some excitement for the upcoming super El Niño that’s brewing.  Stick around on this long-ish one for a full explainer on the Pacific Decadal Oscillation - at the 1:02:43 mark.    Mentions: Climate Perspectives - Western Region Paper: “Synthesis of Publications on the Anomalous June 2021 Heat Wave in the Pacific Northwest of the United States and Canada” USDA - NRCS: Snowpack & Streamflow RainLog NOAA - CPC: El Niño Southern Oscillation NOAA - NCEI: Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO)

Recorded 03/03/2026, Aired 03/04/2026   In this month’s episode of the Southwest Climate Podcast, Hosts Zack Guido and Mike Crimmins rank their favorite months of the year - and June gets no love.  They recap February’s weather which was high and dry but not much else.  There’s a discussion on ENSO with a deep dive into a couple related papers of note.  And with the end of meteorological winter they cover the bleak snowpack conditions in the west. Towards the end there is a look into the models to see what is on the horizon - including for the monsoon.  Stick around for an announcement on the 2026 Southwest Monsoon Fantasy Forecasts game with a lot of new exciting features - you won’t want to miss!     Mentions:  NOAA - Climate Prediction Center: ENSO Discussion Paper: “Southern Hemisphere Surface Warming Drives Southwestern U.S. Precipitation according to AI-Informed Climate Model Simulations” Paper: “Anthropogenic Intensification of Cool-Season Precipitation Is Not Yet Detectable Across the Western United States” USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service: NWCC Interactive Map NOAA - Climate Prediction Center: Season Forecasts National Multi-Model Ensemble (NMME) International Multi-Model Ensemble

Recorded 01/30/2026, Aired 02/02/2026   Hosts Zack Guido and Mike Crimmins are kicking off 2026 with a look at this winter’s weird weather in this month’s Southwest Climate Podcast.  They do a recap of the last couple of months of precip and temps.  They do a review of large scale climate patterns - Madden–Julian Oscillation, Greenland Block - and get into a deep discussion about the Polar Vortex.  They cover the not-so-great coverage of snowpack and look at the forecasts through peak season going forward.  Rounding out the episode is the NOAA announcement on RONI (a topic of past episodes) and a preview of the AI focused episode that is in the works.    Mentions: Paper: Arctic sea ice decline and continental cold anomalies: Upstream and downstream effects of Greenland blocking Paper: What Is the Polar Vortex and How Does It Influence Weather? Figure 2 Figure 1 Article: Stratospheric Warming Confirmed: Polar Vortex Collapse to Bring Major Weather Disruption in the Coming Weeks Article: February forecast calls for more polar vortex mayhem Article: Snow Drought in the West Reaches Record Levels NOAA NWS - Climate Prediction Center: Forecasts NOAA NWS - Public Information Statement: Implementing a Relative Oceanic Niño Index effective February 1, 2026 NOAA NWS - Information Circular: Relative Oceanic Niño Index (RONI) Paper: Northern Hemisphere Wintertime Teleconnections from the 2023–24 El Niño Offset by Background SST Trends

Recorded 12/19/2025, Aired 12/22/2025 In this month’s Southwest Climate Podcast episode, hosts Zack Guido and Mike Crimmins are feeling good about the warmer than normal December temps.  They start out with a look at recent conditions, including the persistent ridge keeping us dry this month.  This leads to a review of a paper on the Heat Dome of 2023 - and what all this warmth means for snowpack in the west.  They give their End of Year review of heat, fire and precipitation in 2025.  Rounding out the episode is a telling of each of their picks for the Climate Story of the Year for the Southwest.   Mentions: Climate Anomaly Maps and Tables Paper: “The longest-lasting 2023 western North American heat wave was fueled by the record-warm Atlantic Ocean” USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service - Snowpack Map Southwest U.S. Station Climate Summaries SWCC: Southwest Year-To-Date Wildland Fire Activity Webinar: Globe/Miami Flooding Event of September 2025: Weather and Climate Overview NOAA NWS: Climate Prediction Center - Outlooks NOAA NWS: North American Multi-Model Ensemble International Multi-Model Ensemble

Recorded 11/07/2025, Aired 11/10/2025 Hosts Zack Guido and Mike Crimmins are enjoying the recent fall weather in this month’s Southwest Climate Podcast episode.  The hosts recap October which had some pretty interesting storm activity.  There is a summary of the hurricane season - including the category 5 Melissa that had devastating impacts in the Caribbean.  They cover the fall to winter transition patterns.  Then the podcast ends with a discussion on the weak developing La Niña which may or may not relieve the drought pressure with some winter precipitation.     Mentions: NOAA - Climate Prediction Center: Forecasts Southwest U.S. Station Climate Summaries Video - Hurricane Hunters pass through the eye of Melissa NOAA - National Hurricane Center NOAA - Climate Prediction Center: ENSO National Multi-Model Ensemble (NMME): JFM Precipitation ***If you receive an error message on any of the NOAA websites, try using an incognito browser window

Recorded 10/03/2025, Aired 10/06/2025 In this month’s Southwest Climate Podcast hosts Zack Guido and Mike Crimmins kick it off by saying goodbye to the monsoon.  They do a recap of the season with a focus on last month's rain events.  September was interesting to say the least - this leads to a philosophical discussion on whether it is the same flavor as the rest of the monsoon.  The hosts tie up the episode with what’s on the horizon for this coming winter & the ENSO forecast.     Mentions: Southwest U.S. Summer Monsoon Season Precipitation Mapping Southwest U.S. Station Climate Summaries Monsoon Precipitation Totals with Rankings 2025 NOAA NWS - Climate Prediction Center NOAA NWS - Climate Prediction Center: ENSO North American Multi-Model Ensemble (NMME)

August 2025 SW Climate Podcast - At Wits End Recorded 8/29/2025, Aired 9/2/2025 We are over two-thirds of the way through this year’s monsoon and in this month’s Southwest Climate Podcast hosts Zack Guido and Mike Crimmins have a bit of a therapy session. They do a round up of July and August which they call the most uninteresting monsoon. There is a deep dive on what is driving this picture of night and day between Arizona and New Mexico.  They give a look towards September with all eyes on the eastern Pacific tropical activity as the wildcard.  They eventually learn to appreciate the subtleties and accept their relationship with the Southwest Monsoon.    Mentions: Monsoon Season Station Climate Summaries Paper: Dominant patterns of US warm season precipitation variability in a fine resolution observational record, with focus on the southwest North American Multi-Model Ensemble (NMME) University of Arizona's Weather Research and Forecasting Model (UA WRF) SW US Monsoon Precipitation Mapping - Past Seasons NOAA - NWS: Climate Prediction Center

Recorded 07/23/2025, Aired 07/24/2025 Hosts Zack Guido and Mike Crimmins in this month’s Southwest Climate Podcast focus on the current unusual monsoon for the entire episode.  All the ingredients are there - but it is not your typical season.  They cover the southwesterly flow, what the heck is going on with the four corners high, and the low that’s been sitting off the coast of California.  They dive into a recent rain event that was attributed to a Mesoscale Convective Vortex (MCV) and how the monsoon has done so far across Arizona and New Mexico which is a tale of 2 states.  Lastly, hear how the hosts are doing on their predictions for the Southwest Monsoon Fantasy Forecasts game.   You can still play if you haven’t signed up yet.  August Predictions for the Southwest Monsoon Fantasy Forecast game are due next Thursday 7/31 before midnight - See if you can beat Mike this next month!   Mentions: NWS - Tucson: Dewpoint Tracker Southwest U.S. Summer Monsoon Season Precipitation Mapping NWS - Climate Prediction Center: Outlooks North American Multi-Model Ensemble (NMME): August Precipitation TropicalTidbits: GFS Model