Although ongoing storms or cold snaps often take precedence, the California drought, now in its third year, is the biggest weather disaster affecting the United States.
Despite a brief stormy period in December, the Sierra Mountains contain about a third of the midwinter average snow-water content. Reservoirs are at 38 percent of capacity and 61 percent of average, according to The Pacific Institute.
The primary cause of the drought is warm water related to the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, a multiyear oscillation that, in its current phase, tends to diminish the El Niños, which usually bring heavy winter precipitation to the Southwest.
Although this drought is likely the worst on the historical record, there is prehistorical evidence of more severe droughts lasting much longer. But none of those droughts happened when California hosted
38 million people and a $36 billion agriculture industry.
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Weather Talk: California drought biggest weather disaster affecting US
Although ongoing storms or cold snaps often take precedence, the California drought, now in its third year, is the biggest weather disaster affecting the United States.
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