Stories - AZPM

The sun rises over the Rincon Mountains in this view from Mt. Bigelow

The Buzz: Battling the Urban Heat Island Effect in Arizona

The cities we've built retain the desert heat and make conditions even warmer. How do we cool things off as temperatures warm?

Tropical storm Colin developing off the Florida coast, 2022.

University of Arizona hurricane researchers predict above-average season ahead

They say the number of named hurricanes could reach a mark set in 2017.

The sun shines harshly behind a saguaro cactus.

The ice is broken: temps climb to 100

The last day of April was the first day in 2023 Tucson hit 100

A weather satellite is depicted in Earth orbit.

UA researchers mount new global wind study

They are using satellites to measure speed and direction of winds aloft.

Grand Canyon delays opening of North Rim due to snowfall

Like other parts of the West, northern Arizona received an abundance of snow over the winter.

A set of wine glasses stand on a display table behind a tasting bar at Birds and Barrels Vineyards Rail Road tasting room in Willcox on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. The business started shortly after owner Chad Preston finished his military service.

The Buzz: Arizona's growing wine industry

State lawmakers celebrate Arizona Wine Month as wine's place in the state's economy grows

The Buzz: How snowmelt affects Arizona's water supply

How much will a wet winter improve drought conditions around the state?

Flowers in bloom at Picacho Peak State Park, 2019.

Winter moisture expected to yield big wildflower bloom in Arizona

Experts say conditions lined up to produce massive floral displays in lower elevations.

Telescopes atop Kitt Peak during the summer.

Winter snow slows space exploration in southern Arizona

Mountaintop astronomers are sometimes stranded by heavy snow at telescope sites.

A skier cruises down Snowmass ski area, where January brought heavy snow to the mountains that supply the majority of the Colorado River's water. Scientists say this could provide a temporary boost to shrinking reservoirs.

The Rockies are having a snowy winter, but not all of that water will make it to the Colorado River

A snowy January is not enough to overcome conditions caused by years of below-average moisture in the region.

Fresh snowfall in Saguaro National Park, East, near Tucson, Arizona.

The Buzz: Arizona and snow

While non-rain precipitation is rare in the deserts, it's not uncommon for the mountains to get feet of snow each year.

An attendee learns to ride a snowboard on Mount Lemmon Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023. Ski Valley offers lessons throughout the day.

Ski Valley opens for snowboarding and skiing

Almost 250 people attended and worked Ski Valley's opening day.

Rare desert winter snow on saguaro cactus in the Catalina Mountains.

Winter solstice: Why isn't the shortest day of the year in the deepest part of winter?

It may be the day with the fewest hours of sunshine for the global north, but there is another source of heat to consider.

Water levels in Lake Powell, seen here in May 2021, are dipping dangerously low. The federal government has proposed an unprecedented plan to cut back on water supplies for Arizona, Nevada and California. The measure aims to keep water levels high enough to generate hydropower at the Glen Canyon Dam.

The Buzz: Looking back on 2022

Newsworthy interviews and topics that we addressed this year.

2022 "Monsoon Madness" names a decisive winner

The victor successfully predicted rainfall totals during another active season.

Heat-related illnesses during the Southern Arizona summers can be dangerous and even deadly. Salvation Army Cooling Centers or “Heat Refuges” are open to all, and provide a climate-controlled space to eat, relax, and re-hydrate.

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