California drought returns

[DoomsDave 10,049]

According to the map via the link, LA and Ventura counties are in in a "Severe Drought" while OC is "only" "Moderate" at this point.

 

State Drought Monitor | United States Drought Monitor (unl.edu)

 

 

[kinzyjr 5,489]

Hope you all get some liquid sunshine.  You could sure use it.

[ColdBonsai 125]

I think this might be a rough year for the west in general. Last rain here was 20 days ago, with only a 20% chance in the extended forecast.

So much for April showers. 

[DoomsDave 10,049]

As long as it’s not too bad we won’t have water restrictions 

[Silas_Sancona 7,781]

On 4/14/2021 at 5:56 PM, DoomsDave said:

As long as it’s not too bad we won’t have water restrictions 

Maybe not for the moment..  but guaranteed,  they're coming ..soon.  Especially if this year's Monsoon is another complete bust, and next winter across the region is dry..

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/the-future-of-western-water-restrictions-is-here/ar-BB1fP8La?ocid=uxbndlbingoff&li=BBnbfcL

[Silas_Sancona 7,781]

Another great read related to another aspect that will greatly impact the current, and future droughts in CA. and the West:

https://www.ppic.org/blog/droughts-arent-just-about-water-anymore/
 

[Chester B 2,948]

Much of Oregon is already in drought. My area is spared at the moment.

[Silas_Sancona 7,781]

And the beat goes on..
 

 

 

 

[Sabal_Louisiana 137]

After reading this topic, I decided to see how precipitation might be trending in SoCal. I only used LAX as a control site so that might be insufficient.

For 1981-2010 mean annual precip at that location was 12.82 inches.

The new NOAA climate normals for LA Intl 1991-2020 is at 12.23 inches.

For 2001-2020 it was 10.70 inches.

I did a quick regression analysis on the annual precip for LAX for this period. After a slight dip a few years back (in response to the very dry years 2012-2015) the mean has since leveled off to match the 20 year average.i

For LA, It would take an average of 14.6 inches of rain a year during this decade in order for the next 30 year standard normal (2001-2030) to have an annual mean of at least 12 inches.

 

[Silas_Sancona 7,781]

...And getting worse..
 

 

3 very sobering stories ( 2nd story is below the story discussing Hoover and Lake Mead ) greatly linked together regarding water levels in the two largest sources of water in the Southwest, the increasing effects of groundwater pumping, and a spectacular Oasis in the southern part of the state which may dry up under the current state of affairs.. Both climate and human related.

https://www.azcentral.com/in-depth/news/local/arizona-environment/2021/05/27/hoover-dam-drought-water-levels-lake-mead/5134031001/

https://www.azcentral.com/in-depth/news/local/arizona-environment/2019/12/05/water-pumping-threatens-arizona-riparian-area-san-pedro-river/3937598002/

[Chester B 2,948]

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/worst-day-water-crisis-deepens-california-oregon-line-n1267479

Right up along the CA/OR border things are very bad.

[Silas_Sancona 7,781]

As if the fire and water situ. across the west wasn't already bad enough, the days of enjoying Salmon may be numbered..