HESPERIA, Calif. — Federal engineers have found that a dam protecting the high desert communities of Victorville, Hesperia, Apple Valley and Barstow falls short of national safety standards and could erode and collapse in an extreme flood, inundating thousands of people. Officials for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Tuesday that they had raised […]
Drought status is often represented by maps of how much precipitation has fallen in the year to date, or how that amount differs from normal amounts of precipitation to date. Up-to-date examples of such maps are presented below: A somewhat different viewpoint on the development of drought considers how much precipitation has fallen (or not) […]
As things begin to dry out again in New Mexico, members of the arid state’s congressional delegation are looking for ways to combat water scarcity here and across the American West. U.S. Sen. Tom Udall is blaming climate change for growing water scarcity. The New Mexico Democrat worries that snowpack in the region is getting […]
“There are 200 different definitions of drought,” said climatologist Bill Patzert. “If you’re a firefighter with no rain in the month of October, and there are strong Diablo and Santa Ana winds, it’s a drought.” Southern California got no rain during October, and it was desiccated by super-dry Santa Ana winds. The jet stream that […]
As society grapples with climate change and the challenge of decarbonizing the national energy grid, proponents increasingly hold up hydropower as an indispensable part of the solution, touting it as “clean, green energy.” They decry what they see as the unfair federal and state tax and regulatory advantages of wind and solar. In a recent […]
Drought is defined by the Bureau of Meteorology as “acute water shortage” (“How bad’s the drought and what’s causing it?”, November 4). It is certainly not going away, and in all likelihood will become more prevalent. Politicians from all sides are realising that a modified Bradfield scheme (diverting monsoonal waters west of the dividing range […]
Extreme Storm Could Overwhelm Southern California Dam and Flood Thousands
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /Los Angeles Timesby Louis SahagunHESPERIA, Calif. — Federal engineers have found that a dam protecting the high desert communities of Victorville, Hesperia, Apple Valley and Barstow falls short of national safety standards and could erode and collapse in an extreme flood, inundating thousands of people. Officials for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Tuesday that they had raised […]
Odds Of Reaching 100% Of Normal Water Year Precipitation
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /Center For Western Weather and Water Extremesby Dr. M.D. DettingerDrought status is often represented by maps of how much precipitation has fallen in the year to date, or how that amount differs from normal amounts of precipitation to date. Up-to-date examples of such maps are presented below: A somewhat different viewpoint on the development of drought considers how much precipitation has fallen (or not) […]
New Mexico Delegation Takes Aim At US West’s Water Scarcity
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /AP NewsAs things begin to dry out again in New Mexico, members of the arid state’s congressional delegation are looking for ways to combat water scarcity here and across the American West. U.S. Sen. Tom Udall is blaming climate change for growing water scarcity. The New Mexico Democrat worries that snowpack in the region is getting […]
Does A Rain-Free October Signal A Return to Drought In California?
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /Los Angeles Times by Paul Duginski“There are 200 different definitions of drought,” said climatologist Bill Patzert. “If you’re a firefighter with no rain in the month of October, and there are strong Diablo and Santa Ana winds, it’s a drought.” Southern California got no rain during October, and it was desiccated by super-dry Santa Ana winds. The jet stream that […]
Opinion: A Fresh Look At The Future Of Hydropower Requires That We See Clearly Its Past and Present
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /The Hill (Washington D.C.)by WM. Robert IrvinAs society grapples with climate change and the challenge of decarbonizing the national energy grid, proponents increasingly hold up hydropower as an indispensable part of the solution, touting it as “clean, green energy.” They decry what they see as the unfair federal and state tax and regulatory advantages of wind and solar. In a recent […]
Drought Here To Stay But Action Can Ease The Pain
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /The Sydney Morning Herald (Sydney, Australia)Drought is defined by the Bureau of Meteorology as “acute water shortage” (“How bad’s the drought and what’s causing it?”, November 4). It is certainly not going away, and in all likelihood will become more prevalent. Politicians from all sides are realising that a modified Bradfield scheme (diverting monsoonal waters west of the dividing range […]