Storms across the Western U.S. are dumping more rain in shorter bursts than in decades past. But according to new research, that doesn’t necessarily mean landscapes are holding onto more water. Scientists say the growing concentration of rainfall into intense downpours — separated by longer dry stretches — may actually leave soils and ecosystems with less moisture over time. The findings, published this month in the journal Nature, point to another way climate change may be reshaping water availability across the region. Researchers analyzed decades of precipitation and land moisture data from around the world. They found that when rainfall becomes concentrated into heavier bursts, more water remains on the surface instead of soaking into soils or groundwater.