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