Weather and climate resources
The Βι¶ΉΣ³» State Climate Office has compiled a list of regional and national resources for understanding and accessing updated information about weather and climate. NSCO also publishes a Quarterly Climate Report and Outlook. During periods of drought, NSCO produces monthly drought reports.
View NSCO's latest climate and drought reports
Finding weather and climate data
The Western Regional Climate Center provides weather station data and more for all of the western U.S. If you need to do some “on the fly” analysis of individual weather stations, look no further than SC-ACIS. The Climate Toolbox, developed at the University of Idaho provides access to all kinds of weather and climate information. It has some great tools for educators, as well. The Climate at a Glance tool from NOAA is helpful in getting a broad-scale perspective. Need real time data? MesoWest has you covered.
Weather and Climate Data Links
Flood information and disaster relief
Βι¶ΉΣ³» has a dry climate, but that does not mean that the state is immune to flooding. Βι¶ΉΣ³» Floods provides information and resources for preparing for floods by determining if your home is in a flood plain, if flood insurance is right for you, how to prepare an emergency kit and more. The National Weather Service provides information about flood watches, warnings and advisories for Βι¶ΉΣ³». Βι¶ΉΣ³» Flood Information is administered by the National Weather Service, and provides information about significant historical Βι¶ΉΣ³» floods and how to identify and prepare for extreme flooding events.
The Disaster Assistance Recovery Tool from the USDA can help you determine if you qualify for certain USDA disaster assistance programs. If you are a rancher or farmer who has suffered crop or land losses due to flooding, you might qualify for assistance from the USDA Farm Service’s Emergency Conservation Program. You may also file a flood insurance claim through FEMA disaster assistance using the guidance provided by the National Flood Insurance Program.
Information and Disaster Relief Links
What is the difference between weather and climate?
The weather is what you experience each and every day. Is it hot or cold? Rainy, snowy, or sunny? Just how windy is it? It’s what makes you think about turning on the heat or grabbing a sun hat.
Climate is the kind of weather you expect, but also why it’s expected. When is the first snowfall and how much does that vary from year to year? Do summer temperatures normally hit 100°F and on how many days? What kinds of severe weather will you get? Tornadoes or dust storms?
Another aspect of climate is that some places are warmer, wetter, cooler or drier than others. The southern and lower elevation parts of Βι¶ΉΣ³» are warmer and drier, while mountains and the northern parts of the state are cooler and wetter. We think of Βι¶ΉΣ³» as dry. It is, in fact, the driest state in the U.S. — according to NOAA’s Climate at a Glance website, Βι¶ΉΣ³» received, on average, just over ten inches of rain a year during the 20th century. But some of the mountains in northeast Βι¶ΉΣ³» receive over 40 inches of rain in an average year.
Weather and climate outlooks
These are the detailed weather forecasts you’re used to seeing with information on the high and low temperatures to expect each day, the likelihood of precipitation and information about potentially hazardous weather, like high winds, heavy snow, or lightning.
Long-lead outlooks are less detailed than weather forecasts, but they can give you early warning about wet and dry periods or whether the next two to four weeks will be relatively warm or cool. Be careful reading these and remember that a 40% chance that temperatures will be above normal means a 60% chance that temperatures may be near normal or even a bit cool.
Seasonal forecasts provide general information about weather upcoming three-month periods will be relatively warm or cool, wet or dry. This is a tall task, so use these with care.