Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Pacific Region for March–May 2022. Dated June 2022.

For the March–May period, precipitation was above normal in Palau, Saipan, northern areas of FSM (Chuuk, Kosrae, Yap), and in portions of RMI (Kwajalein, Majuro). Conversely, below-normal rainfall was observed in southern FSM (Kapingamarangi), American Samoa, and across much of the Hawaiian Islands (March–April) except for windward areas of the Island of Hawaiʻi where above-normal rainfall for April and May was observed.

The southwestern United States, comprising the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah, is experiencing an historic continuing drought. In early 2020, an extreme deficit in precipitation paired with extremely high temperatures marked a low point in two decades of below-average precipitation across the region.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Western Region for December 2021–February 2022. Dated March 2022.

Above-normal temperatures were observed in mountain regions in California, Colorado, Arizona, and Oregon. Despite a wet December, high pressure-induced dry conditions during January and February created widespread below-normal conditions throughout the West. 

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for Alaska and Northwestern Canada for December 2021 - February 2022, with an outlook for April - June 2022.  Dated March 2022. 

From December 2021 to February 2022, most of Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territories and northern British Columbia received record to near record precipitation. Winter temperatures have been mostly below normal. 

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Pacific Region for December 2021–February 2022. Dated March 2022.

For the December–February period, precipitation was below normal in Guam, areas of Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), and in northern Republic of the Marshall Islands. Conversely, near- to above-normal rainfall was observed in Palau, Saipan, western/southern FSM, and in American Samoa. In early December, a kona low brought very wet conditions to the Hawaiian Islands before transitioning to abnormally dry conditions in January and February.

The purpose of the 2021 Pacific Northwest Water Year Impacts Assessment is to summarize the water year conditions and sector impacts as a resource for future management of drought and other climate extremes.

Compared to one year ago, the area in drought in the western U.S. rose from 77% to 88%, while the area in Exceptional Drought (D4) dropped from 22% to 3%. December 2021 storms brought more than 200% of normal precipitation to a large area of California and Nevada and in the Rockies west of the Continental Divide. These storms improved the drought status by 1–2 categories, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, throughout much of the region.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Western Region for September - November 2021.  Dated December 2021.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for Alaska and Northwestern Canada for September–November 2021, with an outlook for December 2021–February 2022.  Dated December 2021. 

During Autumn 2021, the southern and central regions of British Columbia were greatly impacted by extreme weather, whereas the Yukon was far less affected. Rainfall was slightly above average for most locations in Yukon except for Old Crow, where the rainfall of 2.1 inches (53.9 mm) was 79% of the total normal amount.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Pacific Region for September - November 2021. Dated December 2021.

During October 2021, ENSO-neutral conditions transitioned to La Niña conditions, and by November all Niño regions had dipped below the -0.5ºC threshold.  La Niña is expected to continue through the Northern Hemisphere winter (~95% chance) and transition to ENSO-neutral during Spring 2022 (~60% chance during April–June).