The next few weeks and months are commonly considered the height of “appropriations season” on Capitol Hill. Below are brief summaries of where things stand with the federal budget, and important information about potential funding opportunities stemming from the administration’s landmark infrastructure package. 

Conditions that, by today’s standards, are considered to be mega-droughts — or conversely, abnormally wet “mega-pluvial” events — may become the average in the future, according to new research led by the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) and co-authored by scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).

The western US is facing a greatly heightened risk of extreme rain-after-fire events, which can cause mudslides, flash floods, and significant destruction.

Akira Kasahara, one of the giants of NCAR’s scientific legacy, passed away overnight on March 30.

On behalf of the staff of UCAR, I would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the firefighters, first responders, and other emergency workers whose dedication prevented the wildland fire that ignited on March 26, 2022, from damaging our facilities.