Since the chance of measurable rain before the end of September 2023 is nil and none, I thought I would post an updated plot of the Catalina Water Year precipitation totals since records began at Our Garden from the 1977-78 Water Year, October 1 through September 30:
With an El Niño in the wings, it may be that the current recovery from the droughty years from 2000-2010 will be enhanced. Ninos are supposed to bring wetter conditions the the Southwest. In case you think I am lying about a Niño in the wings, here is a chart of sea surface temperature anomalies I just grabbed from here:
While we’re in the subject of weather, I am going to add these plots from the NOAA publication, “Climatological Data, Arizona.” In EVERY one of these monthly publications is a table of the highest temperature observed ANYWHERE in the state since the summer of 1898. I wanted to see how much they’ve been increasing in June and July over the 125 years since these publications started coming out. After all, we’ve been hearing a LOT about “extremes” increasing. I don’t why I even bothered to do this, what a waste I am sure it will be; the extremes will be shooting upward!
But, anyway, here are those plots with trend lines:
Not much going on, especially of late. July has an overall upward trend since records began, but that last 50 years or so don’t seem to be following that upward trend. And how can June exhibit a slight downward trend? Not what I expected. I dunno why. I will leave it to the “extremists” to explain.
Thanks for reading, if anyone does.
Art, retiree, Cloud and Aerosol Research Group, University of Washington
