Wednesday Top of the Scroll: Will California’s ‘big melt’ cause catastrophic floods? Here are four scenarios
California’s “big melt” is underway, and if forecasts bear out, much of the water being held in mountain snow will flow downhill in May and June. But at the moment, the state’s snowpack remains huge — about three times its normal size for this time of year — and depending on coming conditions, the snow can either dissipate slowly or quickly cause trouble. Snowmelt often accelerates in May with warmer weather, longer days and a higher sun angle. … Although it started out at a higher point, California’s snowpack is already melting faster than it did in 1983, a year of historic flooding in the San Joaquin Valley, thanks to a dry April and a heat wave late in the month. … With the weather driving how quickly snow will melt, here are four scenarios that could determine flood severity this spring and summer.
Related articles:
- Los Angeles Times: Striking satellite photos show the dramatic scale of California’s 2023 snowpack
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: USACE prepares for large-volume snowmelt at Isabella Lake
- Record Searchlight: Lake Shasta, rivers filling. Why boaters and swimmers should beware
- Bakersfield Californian: Kern braces for ‘Big Melt’
- Herald and News: Snowfall in Klamath National Forest above average