Outdoor recreation is a major contributor to the Intermountain West’s economy, but the future viability of many businesses—particularly small businesses—in the industry is threatened by their drought vulnerabilities and the region’s projected increases in drought severity and frequency.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Western Region for September – November 2018.  Dated December 2018.

Above normal minimum temperatures were observed in California, Nevada, and Oregon.  Near to well above normal precipitation was observed across much of the Southwest (Arizona, New Mexico, and southern UT) with an improvement of drought conditions in this area.

Provides a definition of El Nino; potential winter impacts; the outlook for winter temperatures and precipitation; and a look back at previous El Nino winters.

NOAA’s Regional Climate Services Program created these Outlooks to inform the public about climate impacts within their respective regions. Each regional report contains easy-to-understand language, and anyone can access them through the Drought Portal at https://www.drought.gov/drought/resources/reports. 

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Western Region for June – August 2018.  Dated September 2018.

Summer temperatures were near normal across the Inland Northwest and above normal elsewhere in the region, especially in the Southwest. Monsoon precipitation was variable throughout the season, though many Southwest locations ended up with near to slightly above normal precipitation.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Western Region for March – May 2018.  Dated June 2018.

Spring precipitation was above normal in a broad swath from central California northeast into Montana.  Well below normal precipitation across much of the Four Corners states; Arizona and New Mexico had their 10th driest spring.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Western Region for December 2017 – February 2018. Dated March 2018. 

Temperatures were well above normal in the Southwest: Arizona, California, New Mexico, Utah, and Nevada all had top-10 warmest December-February on record.  Dry conditions dominated the Southwest as well: California, Nevada, and Utah had bottom-10 driest December-February on record.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Western Region for September – November 2017. Dated December 2017.