snowpack

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West's Lack of Snow Signals Problems Ahead

Record-low snowpack threatens water supplies, raises risk of wildfires

(Newser) - Winter is bringing a split-screen view of the US: bitter cold and blizzards in some regions, and bare ground and springlike temperatures across much of the West. In typically snow-reliable spots like Park City, Utah; Vail, Colorado; and Oregon's Cascade Range, snowpack is at record or near-record lows, with...

'Unusually Normal' Winter Is Great News for California

Snowpack is at 110% of average

(Newser) - California authorities are celebrating something that's becoming increasingly rare: a normal snowpack measurement. The early April survey—a key indicator of water supply and wildfire risk in the months ahead—found a snowpack measurement of 110% of the historical average, the Guardian reports. The last winter this close to...

Winter Games Cut Back Due to Lack of Winter

Lack of snow raises fears of worsening drought in Canada's British Columbia

(Newser) - There will be just two outdoor sports at British Columbia's upcoming Winter Games. "A lack of snowpack on the mountain at Troll Ski Resort and the absence of heavy snowfall in the forecast" prompted the BC Alpine, Freestyle BC, and BC Snowboard organizations to withdraw from the event,...

Warmer Weather Is Shrinking Vital Snowpack
Our Spring Snowpack
Keeps Getting Smaller
NEW STUDY
Jan 14, 2024 9:03 AM CST

Our Spring Snowpack Keeps Getting Smaller

Researchers saw a steep decline in Northern Hemisphere over four decades

(Newser) - If you've been wondering where all the snow's gone—historically speaking—you're not alone. A new study in the journal Nature suggests that snowpack throughout the Northern Hemisphere has dropped sharply over the last 40 years, the New York Times reports. Snowpack is seasonally stable snow that...

Iowa Braces for Flooding, and Yosemite Closes Down

Warmer temperatures are causing flood threats across the US after a strong winter

(Newser) - Parts of the US endured a fierce winter with heavy snow. Now that temperatures are warming up and snowpacks are melting, the second part of that double whammy is here—flooding.
  • Yosemite: NPR reports that Yosemite National Park will close from Friday through at least May 3 because of flooding.
...

Snowpack Delivers Rare Good News to Great Salt Lake

It's 'miraculous,' says one researcher, though long-term prospects are still dicey

(Newser) - The news about the Great Salt Lake in January was about as grim as it gets: Scientists warned the saltwater lake in Utah might disappear altogether in five years, thanks to a combination of drought and heavy water usage. Now, the author of that same dire warning sounds a little...

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