Article by GCN
Drought conditions intensifying out West
SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Great Plains and Western U.S. remain in the grips of one of the worst droughts in the last 108 years, according to a recent report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). More than one-fifth of the nation is in severe drought and conditions are not likely to improve any time soon.
"From year to year, it is not unusual for some area of the country to be in drought at some point," said Douglas LeComte, drought specialist with the NOAA Climate Prediction Center (CPC). "However, the extent of last summer’s serious drought conditions measured by the Palmer Drought Indices has not been seen since the mini-dust bowl drought of the mid-1950s."
In 2002, Colorado measured its driest calendar year since records began in 1895. Also, Nebraska, Wyoming and Nevada recorded their third-driest years. Last summer, the Palmer Drought Index – a measure of relative soil dryness or wetness – in Colorado, Wyoming and Arizona reached extremes not seen in 100 years.
Although recent rain and snow has improved drought indices in parts of the West, this winter’s precipitation totals have done little to ease the hydrological drought, as snow pack has been below normal in every western state except California and reservoirs have been below normal in every western state. Arizona and Nevada are already taking steps to curtail water use on golf courses, and courses in Colorado are anticipating similar restrictions.
Long-range forecasters at the CPC still expect increased precipitation in the Southwest by late winter (February and March). However, confidence is decreasing among the CPC forecasters that enough rain and snow will occur during February through April to make a significant dent in the drought before the usual hot, dry weather arrives in late spring.