Climate Impacts in Northern Arizona

  1. What We Are Seeing
  2. Climate Change Causes
  3. Climate Projections

Climate change is already causing adverse effects on Southwestern communities' health and economies due to increases in temperature, drought, and wildfire (National Climate Assessment).

The City of Flagstaff is developing a community-driven Climate Action and Adaptation Plan to set decreased emission goals and increase the resilience in our community to climate change impacts.

Extreme Weather in Flagstaff

Flagstaff is already experiencing the impacts of climate change like extreme weather. These events are expected to increase, with higher intensity. This story map explores the drought, fire, flood, heat and wind events Flagstaff has experienced in its recent past.


Extreme Weather Adaptation Flagstaff, AZ: A Story Map Opens in new window

Observed Regional Changes

Over the past few decades, Northern Arizona has gotten warmer, resulting in reduced water availability. The impacts of these changes vary throughout our region. For example, the U.S. Geological Society studied the changes in the land where the Navajo Nation resides and found that streams that flowed in the 1980's are now dry washes that never, or rarely flow. These hotter temperatures increase evaporation, making the soil drier and unsuitable for most plants. As a result, sand dunes are growing. To learn more about the impacts of climate change on Navajo Nation watch this video produced by the U.S. Geological Society.

Record of Change Opens in new window

Do you have questions about climate change, the science behind it, & what to do about it? The National Climate Assessment has compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions to help answer your questions.