Latest news with #Drought.gov
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Meteorologist sounds the alarm over unexpected weather phenomenon: 'Less than typical'
Chicago meteorologist Mike Caplan is concerned about the lack of snowfall the area is experiencing this winter. According to Fox 32, Chicago is in the middle of a snow drought, having received only seven inches of snow since Dec. 1. Normal snowfall levels by this point in the meteorological winter would be closer to 20 inches. Though there is still time for more snow, this weather event is alarming. As of Feb. 16, Chicago had "4.9 inches of snowfall at O'Hare International Airport compared with 6.7 inches which would be normal," per Fox 32, which added: "For the entire 'snow season' going back to last fall, we've measured 14.8 inches which is about 13 inches less than typical." Even though a lack of snowfall can be considered an isolated weather incident, the overall likelihood of droughts in the northern hemisphere has increased, which scientists attribute to warming global temperatures. says that parts of the western United States have become a snow drought "hotspot," meaning that such droughts have become longer and more intense. The National Integrated Drought Information System outlines the impacts of snow drought. They are "widespread, affecting ecosystems, reservoir levels and operations, water resource management, tourism, and winter recreation." Lack of snowfall also means there is less water for the drier summer months in a given region. This can be a challenge for drought planning, impacting agriculture and ecology. There are steps we can take to mitigate the buildup of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere. Swapping gas-powered appliances and equipment for electric options will make your home more eco-friendly and could lead to less energy consumption, thus lowering electric bills. You could also incorporate drought-resistant native plants into your garden to reduce water use. Do you worry about air pollution in your town? All the time Often Only sometimes Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. If taking public transportation, riding a bike, or walking isn't an option, driving as efficiently as possible reduces pollution while also saving you money on gas. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
USA Today
20-02-2025
- Climate
- USA Today
Water crisis in West still looms as Lakes Mead and Powell only 35% full
Water crisis in West still looms as Lakes Mead and Powell only 35% full Show Caption Hide Caption Historic drought spurs Arizona to explore importing billions of gallons of water Arizona is exploring plans to import billions of gallons of water to address historic drought conditions in the Colorado River. Straight Arrow News Last week's rain and floods in California may soon give way to concerns about drought in the West as spring kicks off the region's dry season. This year's storms won't erase looming drought worries across the entire southwestern U.S., experts fear. Of particular concern are the giant reservoirs of the Colorado River basin, Lakes Mead and Powell, which remain far below capacity. Colorado State climatologist Russ Schumacher told USA TODAY Wednesday that "because of the warm, dry conditions over the last couple of decades, which have been made worse by a warming climate, and also because of high demand for water in the region, the two big reservoirs on the Colorado River (Lakes Mead and Powell) are still very low compared to their historical levels." How are Lakes Mead and Powell doing? Lakes Mead and Powell, which provide the water that 40 million Americans depend on, are now only about 35% full, climatologist Brian Fuchs of the National Drought Mitigation Center said. Additionally, he said that while "Powell and Mead are in slightly better shape than a few years ago when they were at record lows and it really was a crisis situation, they are still only holding about half of the water compared to the average over the last 40 years." Fuchs also said that there is a lot of storage capacity available in the reservoirs, and that "Mother Nature needs to help do her part, too." Recent storm helped The recent wet conditions over California allowed for some improvements and eased some of the state's drought conditions, Thursday's U.S. Drought Monitor said. Schumacher also said the mountain snowpack in the Upper Colorado River basin (the area upstream of Lake Powell) did see a nice boost from the recent storm: it had been at about 82% of average as of last week, but is now up to 94% of average, he said. Snowpack is key for water for the West: "Most of the water for the Colorado River originates from mountain snow," Schumacher said. Snow drought in the Southwest However, the Lower Colorado River basin snowpack is still extremely low, and a "snow drought" has been declared in many states: "Exceptional snow drought persists in the Southwest (Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah) as a result of record dry conditions," according to Snowpack there had been record low before the recent storm, which gave it a slight boost, but only to 35% of average, Schumacher said. The U.S. Drought Monitor continues to show moderate to extreme drought over much of the Colorado River basin, with worse conditions the farther southwest you go. Overall, he said precipitation for this water year (which started October 1) is well below average over the Southwest. Many locations in the region have been near-record dry since October. Looking ahead The Colorado River Basin Forecast Center's recent forecast is for only 70% of the average flow into Lake Powell this spring and summer, according to Schumacher. He added that the medium-range forecast shows an extended period of warm and dry conditions into early March, "so unless the pattern changes to bring some huge snowstorms in the spring, it's likely to be another year with very low flows on the Colorado River."
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Don't be fooled by a storm or two. Several Florida counties seeing drought conditions
Recent rains, not to mention a tornado, in Florida haven't changed the fact that several counties are experiencing drought conditions, especially in South Florida. Florida's fire season is closely associated with the state's dry season, with increased activity beginning in January and peaking in May and June, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. As of Feb. 14, there are 17 Florida counties with a drought index over 500, which indicates drought and increased fire danger, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management. There are 50 active wildfires across the state as of Friday, Feb. 14, burning about 806 acres, the Florida Forest Service said. Conditions across much of Florida range from abnormally dry to severe drought, with the worst conditions stretching from Palm Beach County into Hendry County. Sarasota County is under a burn ban, according to the Florida Forest Service. Burning of yard debris is always prohibited in these counties: Duval Hillsborough Orange Pinellas Lack of rainfall and above-normal temperatures are factors for deteriorating conditions in Florida, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management. "Abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions now stretch south of the I-10 corridor through much of the Peninsula with a localized area of severe droughtconditions now introduced south of Lake Okeechobee in Palm Beach and Hendry counties," FDEM said. Recent rains, along with rainfall expected into next week, will be reflected when a new drought index is issued next week. The Keetch-Byram Drought Index average for Florida is 370 on a scale from 0 (very wet) to 800 (very dry), affecting 10.5 million residents. There are 17 Florida counties with an average drought index over 500, which means there is drought and an increased risk of fire danger: Broward: 613 Charlotte: 561 Collier: 561 DeSoto: 562 Glades: 621 Hardee: 539 Hendry: 605 Hernando: 516 Highlands: 568 Lee: 565 Manatee: 562 Martin: 575 Miami-Dade: 571 Okeechobee: 523 Palm Beach: 627 Pasco: 536 Sarasota: 597 See the latest conditions by county at part of the National Integrated Drought Information System. The Keetch-Byram Drought Index numbers are used by the Florida Forest Service to indicate how dry the soil, along with surface fuel. High numbers are associated with severe wildfire outbreaks. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services explained what the numbers mean: KBDI 0-200: Soil moisture and large class fuel moistures are high and do not contribute much to fire intensity. This is typical of spring dormant season following winter precipitation. KBDI 200-400: Typical of late spring, early growing season. Lower litter and duff layers are drying and beginning to contribute to fire intensity. KBDI 400-600: Typical of late summer, early fall. Lower litter and duff layers actively contribute to fire intensity and will burn actively. Duff is a layer of partially decayed organic material that builds up on forest floors. KBDI 600-800: Often associated with more severe drought with increased wildfire occurrence. Intense, deep burning fires with significant downwind spotting can be expected. Live fuels can also be expected to burn actively at these levels. From Jan. 1 through Feb. 9, 3,839 acres have burned in Florida in 383 wildfires, according to the Florida Forest Service. Drought conditions are expected to continue and spread from coast to coast across South and Southwest Florida in February. Across most of the remainder of the state, drought conditions are expected to develop, according to the Climate Prediction Center. NOAA's seasonal precipitation outlook for Florida for February through April 2025 is predicting 40% to 50% below normal precipitation for most of the state. For the western Panhandle, the outlook for precipitation is slightly better, with chances at 33% to 40% for below-normal precipitation for the same time period. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida drought, fire danger: What counties are most impacted
