After 14 years as Arizona’s top analyst of weather data, State Climatologist Nancy Selover has announced her retirement. Effectively if not literally, she has weathered the stormy challenges of being the top weather-and-climate expert in a state that has been dogged by persistent drought throughout her time in office.

A research professor in the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning at Arizona State University, Selover also will retire from her ASU duties, which involve research into urban heat-island effects, microclimate, and evaporation.

Her role as State Climatologist, however, is the one that has put her most prominently in the public eye. Appointed in 2007 by then-Governor Janet Napolitano, Dr. Selover has spent countless hours in public forums providing climate data and information about Arizona weather issues to the general public, government agencies, private industry, and other researchers. 

She has said that her greatest pleasure in the job has been her presentations to schools and community groups, discussing climate and weather topics that impact Arizona and, in her words, “communicating climate science to stakeholders in plain vanilla.”

On Tuesday, May 11 at 10 a.m., Dr. Selover will participate in her final meeting with the Drought Interagency Coordinating Group. At that meeting, the ICG will be asked to make a recommendation to Governor Doug Ducey about whether to maintain the official Drought Declarations that are currently in place. 

Information about the May 11 ICG meeting may be found on the Arizona Department of Water Resources website at new.azwater.gov/drought 

The following is a recording of a farewell discussion between ADWR’s Arizona Water News and Dr. Selover.

State Climatologist Nancy Selover to Participate in final Drought Declaration panel

ADWR Field Services managers discusses new “Water Level Change Map” for Phoenix AMA

What does this summer’s monsoon hold in store? Arizona Water News talked recently with our monsoon expert, ADWR Water Resources Specialist Nemesis Ortiz-Declet, about what Arizonans can expect this year.

2021 Monsoon Began with Wind and Thunderstorms - Will the Pattern Hold?

One seriously overlooked resource is the Arizona Drought Preparedness Annual Report, published each year by ADWR in collaboration with the Drought Monitoring Technical Committee, the Drought Interagency Coordinating Group, and the Local Drought Impact Groups.

A virtual Farmers Almanac of drought data published annually since 2006, the Annual Report summarizes Arizona’s short and long-term drought status for the most recent water-year and projects an outlook for the next water-year.

The Annual Report’s editor is Némesis Ortiz-Declet, who also serves as ADWR’s Drought and Conservation Programs Coordinator. Némesis took time recently to chat with Arizona Water News for this podcast describing exactly what goes into producing this great drought resource.

The Drought Preparedness Annual Report: an invaluable source for info on Arizona’s dry spell

Tribal Liaison Donovan Carr will accompany ADWR Director Buschatzke on his planned visits to each of Arizona’s tribes with adjudicated water rights.

ADWR Director, tribal liaison, planning meetings with Arizona tribal water partners

GIS: Invaluable computer-based technology continues opening “data windows” for ADWR scientists

ADWR employees do “Santa” in a big way for Arizona’s foster kids

Groundwater and growth: ADWR’s chief attorney discusses the importance of the landmark Groundwater Management Act in an era of challenges

Interview Ryan Mitchell and Emily Lodolce

Arizona Water News sat down recently for a chat with Randy Matas, ADEQ’s Water Quality Division Deputy Director, to talk about an important new process for helping bolster Arizona’s potable water supplies.

New ADEQ rules for “Advanced Water Purification” program now helping augment Arizona water supplies

Our mission is to protect and enhance Arizona’s water resources, both for residents here and now and for generations to come.

This track is not available anymore.

Other tracks from Arizona Water News