Snowpack Decline
Global warming affects snow and ice cover by increasing the amount of precipitation falling as rain instead of snow and by hastening snowmelt. Scientists have already observed these trends in the Western US. Atmospheric circulation may also be leading to an overall decrease in the amount of precipitation.
Read MoreJan 22, 2018
Western US Snow Drought Winter 2018
Feb 13, 2017
Oroville Dam Spillway Overflow February 2017
Apr 3, 2020 | Los Angeles Times
March storms weren't enough to boost California's snowpack, officials say
Mar 18, 2020 | Turlock Journal
March rain brings relief, but drought conditions remain
Mar 3, 2020 | Los Angeles Times
California's super-dry February raises specter of early fires and drawn-down reservoirs
Apr 4, 2017 | California Department of Water Resources
California Daily Statewide Hydrologic Update
Mar 28, 2017 | Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes
California Water Year Precipitation Anomaly
Mar 28, 2017 | California Nevada Climate Applications Program
Northern Sierra Nevada year-to-date precipitation v. historical average
Mar 11, 2021 | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Global snow drought hot spots and characteristics
Jun 26, 2018 | Journal of Hydrometeorology
Structure and Detectability of Trends in Hydrological Measures over the Western United States
Apr 4, 2018 | Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
EEE 2015: The 2014/15 Snowpack Drought in Washington State and its Climate Forcing
Earth Systems Signals
Global warming is causing widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere.
Heat Signals
The Earth is getting hotter due to human activities that release heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere.
Drought Signals
Climate change is making droughts more likely to occur, and more severe when they do.
Wildfires Signals
Climate change is increasing the size, frequency, intensity and seasonality of wildfires.
Hurricanes Signals
Warmer temperatures increase the rate of water evaporation, which feeds moisture and energy into storms.
Floods Signals
Worsening floods due to climate change are putting a growing number of communities at risk.