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Published January 25, 2011
January 2011 Southwest Climate Outlook

Source: Zack Guido, CLIMAS.

Powerful storms walloped much of the West during late December, drenching many areas of the Colorado River Basin in rain and snow. During a brief reprieve, sun rays illuminated the resplendent sandstone towers in Monument Valley in the Four Corners Region.

January 2011 Climate Summary

Drought– A dry start to the new year has done little to help drought conditions across the Southwest. Moderate drought conditions continue to persist across much of southern Arizona and New Mexico.

Temperature– Warmer-than-average conditions in New Mexico have occured since the water year began on October 1, while Arizona has been cooler than average.

Precipitation– Dry conditions, which are characteristic of La Niña winters, have been the norm in most of the Southwest, and many southern areas have received less than 50 percent of average precipitation. Copious rains drenched some northern regions in late December but provided only scant moisture for other parts of the region.

ENSO– Moderate to strong La Niña conditions continue to dominate much of the equatorial Pacific Ocean. A large and cool pool of water beneath the sea surface in the eastern tropical Pacific suggests that the current moderate to strong event will persist in the next couple of months, and possibly longer.

Climate Forecasts– Forecasts, largely influenced by recent warming trends, call for temperatures to be warmer than average across the Southwest through the winter and early spring. Precipitation forecasts call for drier-than-average conditions into early spring, reflecting the historical effect of La Niña events in the region.

The Bottom Line– The moderate to strong La Niña event, which historically delivers scant rain to the region, has left a large hand print on the region, particularly southern Arizona and most of New Mexico where moderate drought conditions remain widespread. However, middle and late December storms drenched many parts of the West, including northwest Arizona, where short-term drought conditions have improved somewhat. With the expectation that the La Niña event will remain at its current strength for the next several months and possibly longer, precipitation forecasts call for below-average rain and snow. This could cause drought conditions to expand and intensify, and could prime the southwestern landscape for an active spring and early summer fire season.

2010 global temperature tied for warmest year in 131 years

The average global temperature for 2010 has made its way into the record books as the warmest year since 1880, when widespread measurements began. The planet was 1.12 degrees Fahrenheit (or 0.62 degrees Celsius) warmer than the 20th century average, tying the previous high mark recorded in 2005, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The record warmth was measured despite the rapid transition in July from El Niño to La Niña conditions. La Niña events are marked by a cooling of tropical Pacific Ocean sea surface temperatures, which has the effect of slightly cooling the planet. This was the 34th consecutive year with global temperatures exceeding the 20th century average; 2010 was also notable as being the wettest year on record. In the U.S., there was considerable temperature variability. Average temperatures in Arizona and New Mexico ranked as the 32nd and 23rd warmest on record, respectively, while Florida experienced the seventh coolest year on record.

Read more about the most recent global temperature analysis on NOAA’s website: http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2011/20110112_globalstats.html