Climate scientists at Utah State University contributed to a Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society supplement examining the snowpack drought in Washington State during 2014-2015. This “snowpack drought” occurs when normal precipitation is paired with higher temperatures, resulting in rain instead of snow and causing rapid snowmelt. Lead author Boniface Fosu emphasized that such droughts can lead to severe consequences like wildfires and crop failures despite normal precipitation levels. The research indicates that both natural climate variability and human-induced climate change exacerbate these conditions. Associate Professor Simon Wang noted the alarming trend of increasing frequency and severity of such droughts, suggesting they could recur every 30 years. The findings have broader implications for wildfire risks across the Western U.S., as early spring rain can fuel fires when summer temperatures rise. The full report is accessible on NOAA and AMS websites.
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USU Researchers Contribute to National Analysis of Extreme Weather Events
By Terrain News
