Tuesday, May 04, 2021

May Snow Versus 30-Year Numbers

Old Faithful, with some visitors, in May snow at Yellowstone. Down at bottom is view of fresh snow at Red Feather lakes, northwest of Ft. Collins.

NOAA released new 30-year averages this morning - above shows 30-year temperatures versus the 20th century average. The warming across the western half of continental US has been very significant, and has now extended to impact almost all of the country.


The same comparison for 30-year precipitation (above) highlights our long-term drought here in the Southwest. The change in normal precipitation from 1981-2010 versus 1991-2020 (below) is frankly very frightening, since the drought area continues to experience rapid population growth. Note in Arizona and California's Mojave Desert the small and anomalous green spots. Perhaps the Arizona one is due to Mt. Graham, while the other is more mysterious.




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