Tuesday July 23, 2024
Courthouse News Service —
While California and Nevada remain virtually drought-free, climate experts say extreme heat and wildfire risk may continue plaguing the West for months.
Scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said during a webinar Monday that ongoing heat events across the West present a major risk to vulnerable communities, despite a good water supply outlook for the region.
Joseph Casola, the regional climate services director at the National Centers for Environmental Information, called the drought outlook “relatively rosy for California and Nevada.” Data shows few pockets of drought in both states, aside from several areas along the California-Oregon border.
Many reservoirs across California sit above their average holding capacity thanks to the water year’s extended periods of late-spring rain and snow storms.