F below normal in the northern extent of the region, while temperatures were near normal to slightly above normal in the southern third of the region. Average temperatures ranged from 1 to 6 deg. During the past week, precipitation accumulations (liquid) were light (<1 inch) with light snowfall accumulations observed in Upstate New York as well as northern portions of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Likewise, short-term dryness and widespread low streamflows led to the introduction of new areas of Abnormally Dry (D0) in northern New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, and central Maryland. Some minor changes were made on the map including the expansion of Moderate Drought (D1) in areas of Delaware and eastern Maryland in response to a combination of factors including short-term precipitation deficits (past 30-60-day period), low streamflows (<5th percentile), and pockets of below-normal soil moisture. Likewise, short-term precipitation deficits and increasing fire danger in areas of the Coastal Plain of North Carolina led to the expansion of areas of drought. In the Southeast, dry conditions and reports of deteriorating pasture conditions led to the expansion of severe drought areas in central Florida. In the High Plains, blizzard-like conditions and moderate to heavy snowfall accumulations were observed in the Dakotas during the past week as well as in areas of the Upper Midwest including northwestern Minnesota. In other regions, areas of the South (Texas) and the Southern Plains (Kansas, Oklahoma) saw further degradations on the map in response to a combination of short and long-term dry conditions, very low streamflow and reservoir levels, and reported impacts in the agricultural sector. Elsewhere in the region, the state of Utah is observing historic snowpack levels with the statewide snow water equivalent (SWE) at its highest level on record (April 5) at 211% of median, according to NRCS SNOTEL. ![]() In California, the statewide snowpack was 243% of normal (April 5), with the Northern Sierra at 198%, Central Sierra at 242%, and Southern Sierra at 302%. This week’s improvements reflected the impact of the recent storm events which continued to boost mountain snowpack levels to record, or near-record levels as observed at numerous Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) SNOTEL monitoring stations across the Sierra Nevada, southern Cascades, eastern Great Basin, Wasatch, Uintas, and the southern and central Rockies. Overall, the areal extent of drought in the West dipped to 31% this week as compared to 73% at the beginning of the Water Year in early October. including in California, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, and Utah. Drought Monitor (USDM) week saw continued widespread improvements on the map across areas of the western U.S.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |