More than 50 percent of US is in drought as dry, warm conditions continue ahead of spring

With spring approaching, greater than half the U.S. is experiencing drought situations anticipated to worsen with the final snow of the season approaching the West and unseasonably heat and dry situations throughout the South, in line with the National Drought Mitigation Center’s most up-to-date report. 

The National Drought Mitigation Center on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln releases the most recent drought monitor report each Thursday.

“Drought expanded by more than a percentage point this week, with moderate drought or worse (D1) now covering 51.2% of the U.S. and Puerto Rico,” the Center wrote on Twitter.

According to the Center, that is the primary time since 2012-2013 that greater than half of the nation has been in a drought.

To the West, the Rocky Mountains, central Utah, Nevada and the Pacific Northwest added to some snow totals after a dry development. However, California continues to be experiencing excessive and extreme drought situations as snow ranges have been beneath common.

“In California, there are many who fear that the snowpack has peaked for this season at 61% of normal, which will lead to further drought issues later on,” the Center report learn.

Water sources proceed to undergo on account of drought situations. 

 Lake Powell in Arizona is the second-largest water reservoir within the U.S. and has reached traditionally low water ranges.

“The elevation that is real critical is below which the power plant operation will not be available. That elevation is 3,490,” Colorado River Commissioner of Utah Gene Shawcroft stated. “Right now we’re about 35 feet above that.”

Spring runoff from snowpack is primarily what contributes to the lake’s elevation ranges.

“We’ve had some extremely wet months and extremely dry months, so we are hoping that March will be a wet month,” Shawcroft stated. “If it is not a wet month we still have plans in place to keep the elevation at 3,525.”

The Center factors to the South and Southeast as essentially the most vital intensification of drought, together with Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Warm temperatures and minimal precipitation led to the driest situations alongside the southern coasts and Florida.

Now the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles are underneath distinctive drought. Meanwhile, drought situations over west Texas, a lot of central and east Texas worsened as excessive drought expanded. 

Abnormally dry and average drought situations persist throughout the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida and Alabama.

For the final week, firefighters have been battling wildfires within the Florida Panhandle, which have burned greater than 34,000 acres. The fires have been aided by dry situations and particles from Hurricane Michael, which hit the Panhandle in 2018. The first vital rainfall since February was welcomed within the wildfire space on Wednesday, permitting firefighters to realize substantial floor containing the Bertha Swamp Fire.

The National Drought Mitigation Center signifies drought situations may worsen in areas already experiencing excessive drought.

“As spring approaches and dormancy is broken, impacts are already showing in these areas, and drought intensification is widespread with quickly expanding extreme and exceptional drought areas,” the report states.