NG STAFF. SOURCE: PRISM CLIMATE GROUP, OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
In February 2015, while temperatures in the eastern U.S. were far colder than normal, mountain temperatures in the western U.S. were far warmer than normal, ranging from 7 to 13 degrees above average, hampering the buildup of snowpack.
My March 4 piece at National Geographic takes a look at the scarce snowpack situation in the West. While media attention has focused on the frigid and snowbound East, California and parts of the West have been facing a winter too warm to build up essential snowpack needed for summer water supplies. California, which has seen record temperatures, faces a fourth year of drought.
A couple of pieces from last year examine impact of drought and groundwater depletion in the region.
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