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May 13, 2021

Combined poor peak snowpack and/or rapid spring melt rates lead to western drought expansion and degradation.

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December 1, 2014
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California statewide precipitation during the last three winters (November-April 2011/2012 through 2013/2014) ranked the second lowest since official measurements began in 1895. Only the consecutive three-year period of 1974/1975 through 1976/1977 was drier. In this report, the authors analyze the causes and predictability of the California drought during these three consecutive rainy seasons observations and ensembles of simulations conducted with seven atmosphere models forced by observed sea surface temperatures.

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April 1, 2021
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In this EOS opinion article, NOAA Modeling, Analysis, Predictions, and Projections (MAPP) Program Drought Task Force leaders working with the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) describe the disastrous impacts of droughts, heat waves, and fires in the United States and the world. They also discuss new MAPP- and NIDIS-funded research that is tackling the challenges of a drier, hotter, more fire-prone future.

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April 22, 2021
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NIDIS is a multi-agency partnership that coordinates drought monitoring, forecasting, planning, and information at national, state, and local levels across the country. In 2006, Congress passed the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) Act of 2006, which directs NIDIS to develop and “provide a national drought early warning information system.”

April 15, 2021

Region Transitions from Dry Winter to Dry Spring with Dry Soils, Rapid Snowmelt, and Intensified and Expanded Drought Impacts.

April 8, 2021

Snow drought and early, accelerated snowmelt raise concerns as we head into summer.

National Weather Service drought information statements provide up-to-date reports on the current drought situation for a Weather Forecast Office’s county warning and forecast area.

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March 25, 2021
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Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Western Region for December 2020 – February 2021.  Dated March 2021.

Winter temperatures were well above normal in southern California and slightly above normal in all of Nevada, Washington, and Oregon.  Near or slightly below normal temperatures were found in parts of New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho.  Much of the West saw below normal precipitation throughout the winter.

March 18, 2021

Snow drought conditions remain over much of the Southwest U.S., Sierra Nevada, and Rocky Mountains.

March 11, 2021

Drought Preparedness Key as Continuing Drought Conditions and Impacts Compounded By Back-to-Back Dry Years.

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