The rainy season is running out in the West, but recent storms have had an incredible impact on snowpack and drought across much of the region, especially California.
“Thanks to a very wet winter, drought conditions across the western United States have improved considerably,” Jay Familietti, a hydrologist at Arizona State University, told USA TODAY.
In fact, both California and Nevada are currently “essentially drought-free,” which is “really unusual,” he said.
Elsewhere, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, huge reservoirs in the Colorado River Basin, are now about one-third full, said Brad Udall, a senior scientist at Colorado State University. That's up from the same period last year, when it was 25% full, but still far from the historic highs of the early 2000s, when it was 95% full.
But a wet winter is not a panacea for the West's long-term water crisis, and “this situation is here to stay,” Udall said. “I would say this is a collision of 19th century water laws, 20th century infrastructure, and 21st century population growth and climate change.”
Promising drought forecast for California
California's drought forecast looks promising: “Taken together, the abundance of rain and snow we received in the winter of 2022-2023, the condition of our reservoirs, and what happened this winter means that California will not experience drought in the future. “We have high confidence that it will persist well into 2025,” AccuWeather California weather expert Ken Clark said in a statement.
This is good news for both short-term drought concerns and the long-term fight against widespread drought, AccuWeather said. “Years of drought took a toll on the state's water table, so a winter of big storms refilled reservoirs and rehydrated the parched landscape,” said AccuWeather meteorologist Brian Rada. said.
Lake Mead and Lake Powell remain at 'dangerously low' levels
“Both reservoirs have experienced wet winters in recent years, and both remain at dangerously low levels after decades of severe drought,” Famiglietti said.
The mighty Colorado River flows into two reservoirs that provide the water that 40 million Americans depend on.
Specifically, as a result of the current wet winter, Lake Mead has risen more than 3.5 feet from its summer low point. However, Lake Powell is actually about 23 feet down from its 2023 summer high, which was the result of the wet winter of 2022-2023.
Moreover, two wet winters will not solve long-term problems. The Colorado River is in crisis due to decades of drought in the West, exacerbated by climate change, increased demand, and overuse. The river also supplies Mexico and her more than 20 Native American tribes, generates hydroelectric power, and provides water for most of the country's winter vegetable farms.
What are California's current snowpack and reservoir levels? Did the recent storms help?
Familietti said recent blizzards across California have caused snow levels to rise significantly. “Snow levels are currently 'normal' for this time of year across the state, with nearly all of the state's major reservoirs exceeding historical averages for this time of year,” he said. “These increased storage levels will relieve pressure on the state’s persistently overburdened groundwater reserves.”
on tuesday, NOAA's X “Snowpack in the Sierra Nevada has improved significantly since January 1st…thanks to several atmospheric river flows and last weekend's record-setting winter storm.”
“We are currently in the final month of the traditional snow season, and although conditions have improved dramatically since the beginning of the year, March is the year for snow,” Carla Nemeth, director of the California Department of Water Resources, said in a statement last week. “This will be an important time to decide whether the season is suitable for snow season.” Finish above or below average. ”
What is the current drought situation across the West?
When it comes to drought, the West is “pretty okay right now,” Udall said. According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, only about 25% of the western United States is currently in drought conditions, down from 51% at this time last year.
What does this mean for wildfire seasons in California and across the West?
Increased rainfall so far this winter portends a reduction in fire severity later this year, especially in California, Famiglietti said.
However, Arizona and New Mexico have not benefited from additional rainfall like much of the western United States and will likely remain at high risk for wildfires, he said.
Additionally, Udall told USA TODAY the next six weeks are especially important for fire season in the West. Staying wet and cool can potentially reduce the severity of the fire season. If the weather suddenly becomes hot and dry, fuels could run out and wildfires could start, he said.
Contributed by: Associated Press
