Many people are somewhat confused by the term Monsoon. Others actually have no idea what the monsoon is really all about and even if the monsoon truly happens in New Mexico. We will look at what a monsoon really is as well as gain an understanding of how the monsoon here in New Mexico differs from other monsoons around the world. Better yet, we will look at factors that may influence this year's monsoon and exactly how strong we think it will be in 2022. Finally we will look at ways that we can be better prepared for all the weather hazards that a typical monsoon brings to the desert Southwest.

Jason Laney is the Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Santa Teresa, NM. He has been there for almost 13 years. While his primary role is to be a liaison between the NWS and the core partners that use their products, he is also very involved in outreach and education. Jason has said many times that "it doesn't matter how accurate and timely a weather warning is, if people don't get the warning or better yet know what to do when the weather threatens, then that warning is really of no use at all." As such Jason is excited to share information about the upcoming monsoon season in hopes that others will become better informed about the weather hazards that lie ahead in the weeks and months to come.