Arizona State Parks and Trails Podcast

Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot! Arizona's Summer Weather with State Climatologist, Dr. Erinanne Saffell

May 10, 2023 Neil Large and Elisabeth Haugan with guest Dr. Erinanne Saffell Season 4 Episode 9
Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot! Arizona's Summer Weather with State Climatologist, Dr. Erinanne Saffell
Arizona State Parks and Trails Podcast
More Info
Arizona State Parks and Trails Podcast
Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot! Arizona's Summer Weather with State Climatologist, Dr. Erinanne Saffell
May 10, 2023 Season 4 Episode 9
Neil Large and Elisabeth Haugan with guest Dr. Erinanne Saffell

Understand Arizona's climate and its potential dangers with this episode's guest, Dr. Erinanne Saffell. Dr. Saffell is Arizona's State Climatologist and she breaks down our state's diverse climate and the role elevation change plays in our weather, as well as factors like the urban heat island effect and practical measures homeowners in Arizona's low-elevation metro areas can take to temper it on their own property.

Dr. Saffell also gives insight into what kind of summer Arizonans can expect and how to prepare and be safe in the heat, monsoons, and fire season. 

If you enjoy hearing about the fascinating work Dr. Saffell does for the Arizona State Climate Office, check out these ways to get involved:

  • Follow the Arizona State Climate Office on Twitter
  • Sign up for monthly webinars (3rd Thursday every month from 10-10:30 a.m.) and new reports from the AZ State Climate Office and State Climatologist
  • Contact AZClimate@asu.edu to volunteer by measuring evaporation at the Weather Station in Tempe
  • Be a citizen scientist by reporting precipitation with CoCoRaHS (Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow network). Get a backyard rain gauge and easy training at cocorahs.org
  • Brush up on wildfire awareness at azstateparks.com/fire-safety


About Dr. Erinanne Saffell
Dr. Erinanne Saffell received her BS, MA, and PhD degrees in Geography and Climatology from Arizona State University. Her main research interests are extreme weather events, including flood and drought, as well as impacts of the Urban Heat Island. Dr. Saffell is a Senior Global Futures Scientist with the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory and an Associate Teaching Professor at ASU.

The Arizona State Climatologist serves the people and state of Arizona through an executive appointment funded by Arizona State University, the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, and the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory.

Dr. Saffell is Director of the Arizona State Climate Office, which is the recognized State Climate office for the State of Arizona (ARSCO). A focus of the State Climate Office is to evaluate and synthesize climate data and scientific research to provide context and relevancy about the climate of Arizona.

Find your next Arizona adventure and sign up for our newsletter at AZStateParks.com/Amazing, and follow @AZStateParks on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter for even more inspiration.

Show Notes

Understand Arizona's climate and its potential dangers with this episode's guest, Dr. Erinanne Saffell. Dr. Saffell is Arizona's State Climatologist and she breaks down our state's diverse climate and the role elevation change plays in our weather, as well as factors like the urban heat island effect and practical measures homeowners in Arizona's low-elevation metro areas can take to temper it on their own property.

Dr. Saffell also gives insight into what kind of summer Arizonans can expect and how to prepare and be safe in the heat, monsoons, and fire season. 

If you enjoy hearing about the fascinating work Dr. Saffell does for the Arizona State Climate Office, check out these ways to get involved:

  • Follow the Arizona State Climate Office on Twitter
  • Sign up for monthly webinars (3rd Thursday every month from 10-10:30 a.m.) and new reports from the AZ State Climate Office and State Climatologist
  • Contact AZClimate@asu.edu to volunteer by measuring evaporation at the Weather Station in Tempe
  • Be a citizen scientist by reporting precipitation with CoCoRaHS (Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow network). Get a backyard rain gauge and easy training at cocorahs.org
  • Brush up on wildfire awareness at azstateparks.com/fire-safety


About Dr. Erinanne Saffell
Dr. Erinanne Saffell received her BS, MA, and PhD degrees in Geography and Climatology from Arizona State University. Her main research interests are extreme weather events, including flood and drought, as well as impacts of the Urban Heat Island. Dr. Saffell is a Senior Global Futures Scientist with the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory and an Associate Teaching Professor at ASU.

The Arizona State Climatologist serves the people and state of Arizona through an executive appointment funded by Arizona State University, the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, and the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory.

Dr. Saffell is Director of the Arizona State Climate Office, which is the recognized State Climate office for the State of Arizona (ARSCO). A focus of the State Climate Office is to evaluate and synthesize climate data and scientific research to provide context and relevancy about the climate of Arizona.

Find your next Arizona adventure and sign up for our newsletter at AZStateParks.com/Amazing, and follow @AZStateParks on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter for even more inspiration.