SW Cool Season Climate Summaries

Southwest U.S. Cool Season Climate Summaries

The southwest U.S. has a unique seasonal-transition climate characterized by distinct wet and dry seasons that emerge throughout the annual cycle. In Arizona and New Mexico the annual pattern of precipitation is largely defined by the dramatic onset of the summer monsoon thunderstorm activity in late June that persists through late September and the gradual onset of winter storms in late October that can persist through late spring. Winter or ‘cool season’ (defined here are October-May) precipitation comes largely in the form of large-scale, synoptic storms with widespread precipitation often in the form of snow at higher elevations. Cool season precipitation is critical in supporting many ecosystems, agricultural activities and water resources across the region and requires careful monitoring to determine drought status and to anticipate any impacts that may emerge. Typical drought monitoring products or seasonal climate summaries report totals and averages with respect to precipitation, but often fail to capture the subtle shifts in the timing, type, intensity and frequency of precipitation events as well as associated temperature variability that can create drought impacts. These station-level climate summary plots work to present many different variables that can be calculated from daily precipitation and temperature observations to depict sometimes subtle variations climate that can occur across the southwest U.S.

Technical summary plots were created for stations across the region with high-quality long-term records. Email Mike Crimmins to inquire about plots for additional stations or if you have any questions or suggestions on the plots. Summer monsoon season plots can accessed here.

Plot interpretation guide

(Coming soon)

Summary Plot Station Locations

station_map

Links to station plots

Station Name	Current Plot	All Plots
ALBUQUERQUE INTL AP	X	X
ANIMAS 3ESE	X	X
AZTEC RUINS NM	X	X
BLUE RIDGE RS	X	X
BOUSE	X	X
BRIGHT ANGEL RS	X	X
CANYON DE CHELLY	X	X
CASA GRANDE NM	X	X
CHINO VALLEY	X	X
CORDES	X	X
CORONADO NM HQ	X	X
DOUGLAS BISBEE INL AP	X	X
EL PASO INTL AP	X	X
FLAGSTAFF PULLIAM AP	X	X
GILA HOT SPRINGS	X	X
HAPPY JACK RS	X	X
KITT PEAK	X	X
LOS ALAMOS	X	X
MIAMI	X	X
MONTEZUMA CASTLE NM	X	X
NOGALES 6 N	X	X
ORGAN PIPE CACTUS NM	X	X
PETRIFIED FOREST NP	X	X
PHANTOM RANCH	X	X
PHOENIX SKY HARBOR INTL AP	X	X
PIPE SPRINGS NATL MON	X	X
PLEASANT VALLEY R S	X	X
PORTAL 4 SW	X	X
PRESCOTT	X	X
ROOSEVELT 1 WNW	X	X
SAFFORD AGRICULTRL CTR	X	X
SAINT JOHNS	X	X
SELIGMAN	X	X
SHOW LOW AP	X	X
SPRINGERVILLE	X	X
TACNA 3 NE	X	X
TOMBSTONE	X	X
TUCSON 17 NW	X	X
TUCSON INTL AP	X	X
VAN HORN	X	X
WALNUT CREEK	X	X
WHITE SANDS NATL MON	X	X
WICKENBURG	X	X
WILLCOX	X	X
WILLIAMS	X	X
WINSLOW MUNI AP	X	X
YUCCA 1 NNE	X	X
YUMA WSO AP	X	X

Other SW cool season climate resources:

Climate Science Applications Program - University of Arizona Cooperative Extension