Due to low evaporative demand and improved long-term precipitation deficits, northeast Utah saw reduced coverage of abnormal dryness this week. In western Montana and northern Idaho, recently improved snowpack and lessening precipitation deficits led to several improvements to ongoing drought and abnormally dry conditions. Given recent wetness, further improvements in the area may occur in coming weeks. After recent heavy precipitation in western Oregon and improvements to streamflow and long-term precipitation deficits, an area of abnormal dryness was removed from west-central Oregon. Elsewhere, precipitation also fell in some of the mountainous parts of the northern half of the West region. Heavy precipitation fell in parts of north-central and northwest California, and along the Oregon and Washington coasts. Portions of central and southeast Montana were 3-6 degrees above normal. Compared to normal, the coldest area was southern Idaho, where temperatures mainly ranged from 6-12 degrees below normal. Other notable historical droughts included 2007-09, 1987-92, 1976-77, and off-and-on dry spells of more than a decade in the 1920s and 1930s.Temperatures across the West this week were primarily near normal or colder than normal. Californias water supplies: How much water does the state have stored - Los Angeles Times. Hydrologic drought indicates reduced streamflow or groundwater levels.Ĭalifornia recently went through a five-year event from 2012-2016.Agricultural drought describes a lack of soil moisture.Meteorological drought means a lack of precipitation.In a state of 40 million people, that's a lot of water users impacted in different ways by dry spells.ĭroughts have been classified into the following: The state had deeper problems in how it uses water. The term can have different meanings, depending on how water users are affected by water deficiencies. California has been deluged by storms this winter, but fixing the states severe drought will take more than rain. That period can be days, weeks, months and years. See accompanying text summary for forecast statements. The Drought Monitor focuses on broad-scale conditions. The mountain range, which provides roughly 30 of the. At the beginning of the year, the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada was 28 of normal. Pacific Islands and Virgin Islands Author (s): Denise Gutzmer, National Drought Mitigation Center. California’s once-feared snow drought has faded. Advancing Drought Science and Preparedness Across the Nation The National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) is a multi-agency partnership that coordinates drought monitoring, forecasting, planning, and information at national, tribal, state, and local levels. Last year was the third driest on record in terms of precipitation.ĭrought is generally defined as a period of drier-than-normal conditions resulting in water-related problems. United States and Puerto Rico Author (s): Richard Heim, NOAA/NCEI. California is in a drought The end of water year 2022 on September 30 marked the driest three year period on record. The state's reservoirs act as a savings account, storing water in the wet years to help the state survive during the dry ones. These photos show the dramatic impact of the current dry spell at California’s lakes and reservoirs.Ĭalifornia's Mediterranean-style climate means the summers are always dry and the winters are not always wet. After more than a year of drought, significant parts of the West are expected to see drought conditions improve (light brown) or end (green).
as Wildfire Season BeginsĬalifornia has more than 500 reservoirs, which were 50% lower than they should be at the start of June. Projected changes in drought through spring 2023 across the United States. A Severe Drought Is Gripping the Western U.S.