We're introducing a new podcast series that focuses on quick and timely reporting on important climate news and information. We will emphasize stories that relate to the southwest, but we'll also include other climate related news that illustrate the impact of climate on national or global scales. And Mike, Zack, and Ben will still take a deeper look at southwestern climate issues in the monthly CLIMAS Southwest Climate Podcast. This episode, we're focused on record warm temperatures, drought, and snowpack across the west, along with a few stories that illustrate the downstream impact of these conditions.

This podcast is also available as a video podcast

See our blog post detailing the information from the podcast: http://www.climas.arizona.edu/blog/mini-podcastnews-southwest-climate-update-may-1-2015

Image & Story Credits - Podcast & Blog Post

2014 and 2015 Record Temperatures

National Climate Data Center (NCDC) - State of the Climate - Overview

2014 Warmest Year on Record

Figure: Decadal Averages - Annual & Decadal Global Mean Temperatures - Source: NCDC/NESDIS/NOAA

Figure: Statewide Average Temperature Ranks - Jan - Dec 2014 - Source: NCDC

Figure: Statewide Average Temperature Ranks - Jan - Mar 2015 - Source: NCDC

Figure: Westwide SNOTEL Current Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) % of Normal - Source: NRCS

State of the Drought

Drought is leading AZ to think about Water Planning

Figure: U.S. Drought Monitor Weekly Update - April 21, 2015 - Source: USDM

Figure: Northern Sierra Precip - 8-Station Index - Source: CA Dept of Water Resources

Figure: Central Arizona Project Systems Map - Source: CAP

Figure: Agricultural Use by Crop - Source: Mother Jones

Figure: Central Arizona Project Sytems Map - Source: CAP

Figure: Lake Mead Elevation - Source: CLIMAS (using Bureau of Reclamation Data)

Figure: Tier 1 Shortage - Source: April 10, 2015 UA Water Forum

Figure: Tucson Water Use - Source: Tucson Water

Bark Beetles, Tree Stress, and Climate Change

Bark Beetles Are Decimating Our Forests. That Might Actually Be a Good Thing. (Mother Jones)

Figure: Rocky Mountain Region Bark Beetle - Source: U.S. Forest Service

Figure: Arizona & New Mexico Bark Beetle Mortality - Source: U.S. Forest Service

Figure: Percentage of Trees Seen With Damage - Source: U.S. Forest Service & Karen Minot (Mother Jones)

Record Low Snowpack Across the West

Record low snowpack and drought - California water restrictions (Weather.com)

Figure: Snow Water Equivalent - Source: NRCS

Figure: California Snowpack - Source: California Department of Water Resources

FIgure: California Water Restrictions Press Conference - Source: Weather.com

Snowpack, Drought, & Energy

Information & Figures: California drought leads to less hydropower, increased natural gas generation - U.S. Energy Information Administration

Climate Change, Temperature & Precipitation Records, and Pollen

Information & Figures: Warm temperatures and a wet fall resulted in a very heavy pollen season this year. Source: http://www.earthgauge.net/2015/climate-change-pollen-and-allergy-season

CLIMAS Member(s):

Ben McMahan Emily Huddleston