Montana enters drought emergency as conditions worsen
3 years, 8 months ago

Montana enters drought emergency as conditions worsen

Associated Press  

Greg Gianforte declared a statewide drought emergency Thursday as more than 92% of Montana faces abnormally dry conditions. Montana’s disaster declaration follows similar ones in other states, most recently a declaration in South Dakota earlier this week, as governors seek solutions to curb the impacts of unusually dry conditions. A report released by the state Wednesday predicts drought conditions in Montana will worsen in the next two months. “Given the latest on-the-ground conditions and the fire activity we have seen across the state over the past several weeks, we urge all Montanans and visitors to remain vigilant in doing their part to prevent wildfires,” Amanda Kaster, director of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, said in a statement.

Conditions State Montana Drought Conditions Enters Drought  montana  declaration  square  emergency  worsen  faces  week  unusually  conditions  state  worse  enters  drought

History of this topic

With all this rain and snow, can California really still be in a drought? Look deeper
2 years, 1 month ago

With all this rain and snow, can California really still be in a drought? Look deeper

LA Times  

Lake Oroville, seen at the beginning of February, is one of the state’s largest reservoirs and currently at 71% capacity following the January storms. “We’re in better shape than we were two months ago, but we’re not out of the woods.” California Photos: Two atmospheric river storms descend on California California’s deadly storm season continued Friday as the first of …

Nearly all of California exits the worst drought categories in U.S. Drought Monitor
2 years, 2 months ago

Nearly all of California exits the worst drought categories in U.S. Drought Monitor

LA Times  

The latest update from the U.S. Drought Monitor showed an extraordinary sight: Deep splotches of dark red and purple signifying the worst levels of drought have been erased from California’s map almost completely. “We’re definitely looking to be in a better situation than we were last year, where everything shut off for a good three months, and there will be …

Drought, fire risk to stay high during third La Niña winter
2 years, 5 months ago

Drought, fire risk to stay high during third La Niña winter

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Drought and wildfire risks will …

Despite April rains, California still faces significant drought conditions as summer nears
2 years, 11 months ago

Despite April rains, California still faces significant drought conditions as summer nears

LA Times  

After a spring storm, a worker clears the deck of snow at the top of the aerial tram at Palisades Tahoe on April 17. But on Friday, the UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab in Donner Pass said it had received 76 inches of powder since the start of the month thanks to April’s storms — nearly doubling the 41 …

Montana comes off 4th driest year on record amid drought
3 years, 3 months ago

Montana comes off 4th driest year on record amid drought

Associated Press  

— There’s an old weather adage that’s been passed over cups of coffee and glasses of beer for nearly a century: “It’s not a drought ’til it breaks your heart.” Today, the hearts of thousands of Montanans have broken across the bare back of one of one of the worst droughts in Montana history: farmers trying to balance their books …

Hopeful storms in forecast for drought plagued US West
3 years, 5 months ago

Hopeful storms in forecast for drought plagued US West

Associated Press  

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Mired in an historic drought, California is set to get its first significant soaking of the season this week, with storms forecasted to dump up to 7 inches of rain in parched parts of the state. Tuesday, state water officials warned one of the state’s large reservoirs in Mendocino County could run dry by next summer. Newsom’s …

Here are some things to know about the extreme drought in the Western U.S.
3 years, 9 months ago

Here are some things to know about the extreme drought in the Western U.S.

LA Times  

A riverboat moves across Lake Mead on the Colorado River in 2015, another period of historically low water levels. The prolonged dryness means low water levels are endangering fish species in Oregon and Colorado, 30% of California’s population is in a drought emergency, and the nation’s two biggest reservoirs on the Colorado River — Lake Powell and Lake Mead — …

In Pictures: Across US West, drought arriving dangerously early
3 years, 9 months ago

In Pictures: Across US West, drought arriving dangerously early

Al Jazeera  

Lakes at historically low levels, unusually early forest fires, restrictions on water use and now a potentially record heatwave: even before summer’s start the United States’ West is suffering the effects of chronic drought made worse by climate change. Widespread water-use restrictions appear inevitable over the coming months, with potentially serious ramifications for Western states, in particular for irrigation-dependent farmers …

On tap in California: Another drought four years after last
3 years, 11 months ago

On tap in California: Another drought four years after last

Associated Press  

LOS ANGELES — California’s hopes for a wet “March miracle” did not materialize and a dousing of April showers may as well be a mirage at this point. “The time in between the end of the last drought and, possibly, the beginning of this next one isn’t that long,” Chappelle said. “Guys are in a really tough spot when they …

On tap in California: Another drought four years after last
3 years, 11 months ago

On tap in California: Another drought four years after last

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Guys are in a really tough spot when they …

‘Flash drought’ worsening across 14 Southern US states
5 years, 5 months ago

‘Flash drought’ worsening across 14 Southern US states

Associated Press  

ATLANTA — More than 45 million people across 14 Southern states are now in the midst of what’s being called a “flash drought” that’s cracking farm soil, drying up ponds and raising the risk of wildfires, scientists said Thursday. The weekly U.S. Drought Monitor report released Thursday shows extreme drought conditions in parts of Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina …

Southern drought deepens; 11 million affected
5 years, 6 months ago

Southern drought deepens; 11 million affected

Associated Press  

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Weeks of dry, hot weather have plunged the Deep South further into a drought that’s affecting more than 11 million people and threatening crops across the region, a new assessment showed Thursday. The latest report from U.S. Drought Monitor showed arid conditions worsening across a five-state area from Louisiana to South Carolina. The National Weather Service on …

42% of India’s Land Drought Affected, Worsening Farm Distress in Election Year
5 years, 11 months ago

42% of India’s Land Drought Affected, Worsening Farm Distress in Election Year

The Quint  

States such as Karnataka have opposed the latest drought management manual that came out in December 2016, saying it made it difficult to establish the severity of drought and would drastically reduce assistance from the Centre’s National Disaster Relief Fund. The manual obligates states to assess numerous parameters, based on which an area can be declared drought-hit and assigned a …

Must Reads: California is drought-free for the first time in nearly a decade
6 years ago

Must Reads: California is drought-free for the first time in nearly a decade

LA Times  

Pedestrians cross First Street in Boyle Heights as rain clouds partially obscure the downtown L.A. skyline on March 6. For the first time since 2011, the state shows no areas suffering from prolonged drought and illustrates almost entirely normal conditions, according to a map released Thursday by the U.S. Drought Monitor. Some parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties were …

Nearly 50% of India currently facing drought, say IIT Gandhinagar scientists
6 years, 1 month ago

Nearly 50% of India currently facing drought, say IIT Gandhinagar scientists

The Hindu  

Nearly 50% of the country is currently facing drought with at least 16% falling in the “exceptional” or “extreme” category, according to IIT Gandhinagar scientists managing India’s real time drought prediction system. “Arunachal Pradesh did not get good rain this year, and parts of Jharkhand, southern Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and northern part of Tamil Nadu are under drought,” Mr. Mishra …

California's Drought Emergency Is Officially Over
7 years, 11 months ago

California's Drought Emergency Is Officially Over

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING California Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday issued an executive order that ends the drought emergency in most parts of the state. “Conservation must remain a way of life.” Brown’s order maintains many of the conservation practices put in place in 2015, including mandatory reports on water usage, restrictions on using nonrecirculated water in fountains and bans on …

In a major improvement, nearly half of California is no longer in a drought
8 years, 2 months ago

In a major improvement, nearly half of California is no longer in a drought

LA Times  

A woman walks through water from a king tide that flooded onto the Embarcadero in San Francisco on Wednesday. Since California’s “water year” began in October with above-average precipitation, the state has enjoyed continued wet weather that has gradually improved its drought outlook. The weekly release of the U.S. Drought Monitor map has largely reflected those improvements, with perhaps the …

Drought hits Northeastern US, could last months
8 years, 8 months ago

Drought hits Northeastern US, could last months

Associated Press  

CONCORD, N.H. — At Lavoie’s Farm in New Hampshire, beans and corn haven’t broken through the ground yet and fields of strawberries are stunted. A lot of things we would like to give water to, we can’t.” The dry blast in New Hampshire is being felt throughout the Northeast, from Maine to Pennsylvania, driven by a second year of below-average …

California is now in the midst of the worst drought on record
10 years, 7 months ago

California is now in the midst of the worst drought on record

Salon  

Californians have been in the midst of a three-year drought that has meant significant lifestyle changes. Mashable's Andrew Freedman reports: The percentage of the state in the worst category of drought -- known as "exceptional drought" -- skyrocketed from 36.5% to 58.4% in the past week alone, according to statistics released on Thursday. This sets a record dating back to …

California's Drought: A Shocking Photo And Other Updates
11 years, 1 month ago

California's Drought: A Shocking Photo And Other Updates

NPR  

California's Drought: A Shocking Photo And Other Updates Enlarge this image toggle caption California Department of Water Resources California Department of Water Resources Farmers in California, where Gov. Sponsor Message The federal agency says it is working with the California Department of Water Resources to help the state manage its water resources. Here are other updates on the situation: NASA …

Historic California drought getting worse
11 years, 1 month ago

Historic California drought getting worse

CNN  

Story highlights The whole state is "abnormally dry," report says Gov. Jerry Brown has asked Californians to cut back on water use President Obama has announced federal aid CNN — It seems “the worst drought that California has ever seen” has become even worse. Jerry Brown said the state was facing perhaps “the worst drought that California has ever seen …

California's Governor Declares Drought State Of Emergency
11 years, 2 months ago

California's Governor Declares Drought State Of Emergency

NPR  

California's Governor Declares Drought State Of Emergency Enlarge this image toggle caption Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Saying that his state must take steps to plan for prolonged water shortages, Gov. California faces "water shortfalls in the driest year in recorded state history," according to the governor's office. "We can't make it rain, but we can be much better …

US faces worst drought in more than 50 years
12 years, 8 months ago

US faces worst drought in more than 50 years

China Daily  

Updated: 2012-07-20 06:27 WASHINGTON - The United States is facing the worst drought since the 1950s, with almost two thirds of the continental US experiencing at least moderate drought, reports released Thursday indicated. According to the latest US Drought Monitor report, released by the National Drought Mitigation Center, as of Tuesday, 64 percent of the contiguous US is experiencing at …

Drought Disasters Declared In More Counties
12 years, 8 months ago

Drought Disasters Declared In More Counties

NPR  

Drought Disasters Declared In More Counties; 1,297 Affected So Far Enlarge this image toggle caption Scott Olson/Getty Images Scott Olson/Getty Images With the addition of 29 counties in eight states today, there are now 1,297 counties across the nation so stricken by drought and heat that they've been declared natural disaster areas, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack just announced. In a …

Discover Related