California may be ‘drought free,’ but it’s not ‘snow drought’ free.
The western United States is experiencing a snow drought despite recent record rainfall from atmospheric rivers.
This unusual weather pattern is causing concern for future water supplies. According to CNN, the region’s snow drought is marked by low snowpack levels, which are crucial for water supply during the dry months. The lack of snowpack, compounded by warm temperatures, has led to rain falling instead of snow, exacerbating the drought conditions.
In December, atmospheric river storms brought heavy rain to the Pacific Northwest, but the warm temperatures meant that much of this precipitation fell as rain rather than snow. The Weather Channel reported that this led to significant snowmelt and flooding in areas like Washington’s Yakima River Basin. The snowpack in this region decreased by about 50% during the storm, worsening the snow drought.
The National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) highlights that snow water equivalent (SWE) values are below historical medians across many western watersheds. This poses a threat to water supplies, as the snowpack acts as a natural reservoir.
Experts warn that if the trend continues, it could deepen the long-standing drought in the West, impacting water allocation and increasing wildfire risks. However, there is still time for recovery, as the main snow accumulation period lasts until March. Scientists are working to improve snowpack forecasting to help manage water resources better in the face of climate change.
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