For this summer’s water forecast, climate experts are looking back to winter
In the middle of a parched summer in the arid West, any amount of rain can feel like a gift. But in reality, those precious summer showers barely move the needle when it comes to water…. As a drought-stricken region looks ahead to the summer, climate scientists are keeping an eye on high-mountain snowpack and its path to streams and rivers. Snow at high altitudes makes up the majority of the water in the Colorado River – where this past winter has left low totals. On top of that, warm temperatures and dry soil mean that snow is likely to melt early and soak into the ground before it can get to the Colorado River.
Related article:
- KUNM – Albuquerque: Mapping snowpack from the skies brings new precision to water forecasting
- University of Nevada, Reno: News release: Study sheds light on what influences water supplied by snowmelt