Yes, there is still a relatively wide range of potential outcomes later this year. But the odds of a strong or very strong El Niño event by autumn/winter are already *much* higher than baseline and have continued to increase with each predictive model update cycle.

Mary Blackburn, #UCANR nutrition advisor, shares her more than 60-year journey in public health, highlighting her lasting impact on the field, in a @KTVU feature. www.ktvu.com/video/fmc-e0...

This was recorded, as always, in case you missed it. In addition to the main theme below, I took some time to answer a Weather West question about the appearance of clouds from space and ended up giving a mini lesson on satellite meteorology!

Backyard chickens are fun—until they're not. Dr. Cluck's Backyard Chickens by Adler & Pitesky: vet-approved and beautifully illustrated. Serious science. Fun format. Happy chickens. @ucdavisvetmed #UCCE Learn more 👉 https://ucanr.edu/blog/food-blog/article/drcluck

TODAY 2pm: Join @weatherwest.bsky.social, @ucanrwater.bsky.social climate scientist, to discuss potential for a May heatwave in California and across the Southwest. Also how much water is in the snowpack?

1/2 The federal government has severely curtailed research funding. The National Science Foundation (NSF) faces extreme funding threats, with 2026/2027 proposals including a 50%+ reduction. Yikes!!!

TODAY 2pm: Join @weatherwest.bsky.social, @ucanrwater.bsky.social climate scientist, to discuss potential for a May heatwave in California and across the Southwest. Also how much water is in the snowpack?

“California is going to be affected by this now record-breaking marine heat wave for months to come,” @weatherwest.bsky.social @ucanr.edu told @paulrogerssjm.bsky.social “It’s likely this is going to be with us probably the rest of the year.” www.mercurynews.com/2026/05/03/r...

Got backyard chickens? Dr. Cluck has advice for keeping your birds healthy ucanr.edu/blog/food-bl...

Aedes aegypti mosquito can transmit serious diseases like dengue, Zika, yellow fever and chikungunya @ucipmurban.bsky.social has info about the species at ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-lan...

Mark your calendars! Join us for UC ANR #Giving Day is May 14-15, noon to noon! From #agriculture to youth development, UC ANR brings research-based solutions directly to California communities. Join us and help make a lasting impact. give.ucanr.edu

A cut-off low pressure system is currently spinning west of California. It generated scattered mountain thunderstorms today, and will cause more widespread showers & thunderstorms (mainly in NorCal mountains, but locally elsewhere) Sun-Mon. A stronger cell or two are possible.

On Monday at 2pm PT, I'll discuss whether this weekend's showers might be the last of the season, where we currently stand water & snow-wise, and also the potential for a significant mid-May heatwave in California and across the broader West.

Farming smarter, not harder. At HotSpot AG in the Central Valley, Daniele Zaccaria, ag water management specialist in Cooperative Extension, highlights how microirrigation helps growers optimize water, energy, and labor, while maintaining yields.🔗 thebusinessjournal.com/hotspot-ag-h...

There's still time to register for this timely and important discussion, happening May 8 ⬇️

75 years of impact in ag & natural resources. Celebrate with us on May 17 at the Hopland Research and Extension Center open house (10am–2pm)! Tours, hands-on activities & a chance to connect with UC ANR scientists. Free & open to all. https://ucanr.edu/blog/anr-news-releases/article/hopland-75-years

I am begging people looking to make major donations to universities to either 1) care as much about academics as they do sports, or 2) make unrestricted gifts instead. Signed, A faculty member at a university with brand new athletic facilities and crumbling teaching and research infrastructure

So nice of @weatherwest.bsky.social to bring us sunny warm weather!

This proposal was a compromise. It provides extra fire protection via strict plant prohibitions nearest the house, yet flexibility for landscaping elsewhere in Zone Zero. www.yahoo.com/news/article...

A period of warmer weather will return the rest of this week across most of California before yet another spring low pressure system brings unsettled conditions again this weekend. This will be a much more "typical" and lower-impact April showers scenario than recent storms.

Pacific Ocean temperatures have swelled in some places to >7 degrees F above normal, reports @chelseaeharvey.bsky.social “Once we start getting into 5-, 6-, 7-degree F territory, that is a pretty extreme marine heat wave,” said @weatherwest.bsky.social @ucanr.edu www.eenews.net/articles/mar...

Critics blast Trump's purge of National Science Board: 'Wholesale evisceration of American leadership in science'

Congratulations to #UCANR climate scientist Daniel Swain on this well-deserved recognition! The California River Award is a meaningful honor, & your reflection on rivers as “integrators of change” couldn’t be more timely. Thank you for your leadership and impact! @weatherwest.bsky.social

Volunteers are helping detect sudden oak death “Last year we had 5 outbreaks detected," said Matteo Garbelotto. "We had to revisit those locations where the volunteers went and resample everything. All were confirmed as NA2.” @montereycountynow.com #SOD www.montereycountynow.com/news/local_n...

The heat wave’s intensity and early arrival shocked many climate scientists. “It is exceptionally difficult for the Earth system to produce temperatures this warm so early in the season,” wrote Daniel Swain @weatherwest.bsky.social @ucanrwater.bsky.social

Our @ucanrfirenetwork.bsky.social scientists study wildfire behavior. For tips on making your home more resilient, see their website ucanr.edu/program/uc-a...

“Boy howdy does it look like it’s going to be a persistent and extreme marine heat wave into the summer,” @weatherwest.bsky.social, climate scientist @ucanr.edu, told @afreedma.bsky.social

#Strawberries “The fruit loss is going to be tremendous. Just this morning I measured an inch and a half of rain over the past two days. Usually berries start to break down after half an inch,” Mark Bolda, @ucanr.edu farm advisor, told @ksbw.bsky.social www.ksbw.com/article/rain... 🍓

JournoJob alert: Come work with me at CNN Climate & Weather. Must have multimedia skills & be a sharp editor to shepherd and edit weather edutainment stories. This is a great role for the right person. careers.wbd.com/global/en/jo... (You can also be based in DC, NYC etc).

Multiple storms in April could make it one of the wettest for parts of the Sierra, reports @climatedaddykqed.bsky.social “It does help considerably. Has it erased our snow deficit? Nope” @weatherwest.bsky.social @ucanr.edu said. www.kqed.org/science/2000...

The pouring rain didn’t stop UC President James Milliken from visiting with our team at #AgDay2026! We appreciate your support and enthusiasm for the work we do across #California. @uofcalifornia.bsky.social

We extend our sincere thanks to Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva & Senator Tim Grayson for visiting and engaging with UC ANR programs at #AgDay2026. We greatly value your time and your continued partnership in advancing science-based research.

Healthy, resilient landscapes drive productivity, innovation, and climate solutions 🌿 We’re thrilled that our Vice President Glenda Humiston is participating in today’s @earthxtv Bioeconomy Symposium, helping shape a more sustainable path forward. #earthx2026

Come see UC ANR at Ag Day at the Capitol. We’re here till 1:30pm #CAAgDay

Good morning from the State Capitol! We're here celebrating #AgDay2026. Stop by, say hello, and connect with our team. We’ll be here from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 pm., sharing how UC ANR supports communities across California through agriculture, youth programs, and research. #CAAgDay

TODAY Join Daniel Swain @weatherwest.bsky.social @ucanr.edu at noon to discuss the unusual spring weather & water outlook

Talking weather and climate with with Daniel Swain, @ucanr.edu climate scientist: A conversation regarding the record-smashing warm month of March for the western U.S. and what it means for the region going forward.

Monday, April 20 (~7:45 am PT): UC ANR climate scientist Daniel Swain joins CBS Los Angeles to talk about El Niño. Watch live: cbsnews.com/losangeles/

I'll have another "lunch hour" live virtual office hour at 12 noon PT on Tue, Apr 21, to discuss continuation of an unusually active spring weather pattern in California, broader context of strange 25-26 Water Year, and links to now record-warm NE Pacific.

New Weather West post out this evening: "Unusually active April weather pattern to continue this week, and possibly beyond, as subtropical northeastern Pacific waters reach record warmth."

Nice to see the name of the woman who donated $80m to NPR: Connie Ballmer

Come work with us at @ucanr.edu!

UC ANR VP Glenda Humiston, staff, academics, volunteers & partners headed to Sacramento this week for Advocacy Day. They shared how #UCANR supports communities across CA with local programs, education & outreach. @ucanrfirenetwork.bsky.social

As wolf populations expand, ranchers are facing losing livestock, income and sleep while working to protect their herds. In Butte County, a community event brought ranchers, researchers and students together for coexistence and solutions. https://ucanr.edu/blog/food-blog/article/ranchingwithwolves

“Extremely warm ocean temperatures of this kind of magnitude can certainly ‘juice up’ existing storms,” said @weatherwest.bsky.social @ucanr.edu

Monday, April 20, live at ~7:45am PT on CBS LA Daniel Swain @weatherwest.bsky.social, @ucanr.edu climate scientist, will talk about El Nino with @caliweatherguy.bsky.social www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/

In case you missed it live, the recording is available below (as always!). There were some great questions from the audience yesterday (which is usually true, but I always like to highlight the participatory nature of these sessions!).

📊 National food security data is on the line. @npi.ucanr.edu @ucanr.edu submitted comments stressing the need to continue the Census household food security survey—critical for tracking hunger & informing policy. Losing it risks major data gaps. Learn more: bit.ly/4sDfPwM

The heat wave is deep, persistent & widespread. Those are “pretty significant indicators that this has both staying power and will have consequences for weeks or months or even seasons to come for Southern California,” @weatherwest.bsky.social @ucanr.edu told @hayleysmith.bsky.social