#Wildflowers evolved fast enough to survive a historic #drought

By Andrei Ionescu
March 13, 2026

Excerpt: "A potted #ScarletMonkeyFlower can look fine one day and collapse a few days later if you forget to water it. But out in the wild, some populations of this same species made it through #California’s brutal four-year drought.

"The wildflowers didn’t survive because the drought 'wasn’t that bad,' or because the plants found hidden water. They survived because, according to a new study, they evolved fast enough to keep up.

"The researchers tracked scarlet monkeyflower populations in #Oregon and California for more than a decade.

"The team reports something scientists have long discussed but rarely captured in nature from start to finish: climate-driven decline, rapid genetic adaptation across the whole genome, and then recovery in some populations.

"In other words, '#EvolutionaryRescue' happening in the real world, not just in theory or in lab experiments."

Read more:
https://www.earth.com/news/wildflowers-evolved-fast-enough-to-survive-a-historic-drought/

#Superblooms #Evolution #ClimateChangeAdaptation #Flowers #ClimateChange #ExtremeDrought #Wildflowers

What's on my mind? Well, that #Maine is still very much in drought (despite the snow). And with dry and unseasonably hot weather (close to 60 F is forecast) on the horizon for next week, it does NOT bode well...

#MaineWx #ClimateChange #ClimateDiaryMaine #ExtremeDrought #SevereDrought #DroughtMonitor

Persistent #drought takes toll on #Maine #farmers

After a wet spring, farmers hoped for blue summer skies, but also got a drought that caused crop losses and may last through winter.

Penelope Overton & Robert Lowell, October 5, 2025

"This year, Maine saw its sixth-driest summer on record, with nearly 3 fewer inches of rain than the historical average of 11 inches, according to the National Weather Service. As of Oct. 2, more than half of the state was in severe or extreme drought.

"The Maine agricultural economy is grappling with significant long-term repercussions from the persistent drought, which deprived crops of critical water in July and August and now threatens next year’s harvests, state officials said Thursday at a meeting of the state’s Drought Task Force.
The drought has caused reductions in hay crops, shortened the season for many row crops, resulting in smaller harvests, and it could hurt next year’s berry and tree fruit, according to Tom Gordon, soil and water conservation program coordinator at the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

" 'For agriculture, timing is everything,' Gordon said. 'Consistency of precipitation is what’s essential and we can’t in agriculture really catch up on lost precipitation. We need about 1 inch of water per week for crops, and that was lacking during the critical growing season.' "

Read more:
https://www.pressherald.com/2025/10/05/persistent-drought-takes-toll-on-maine-farmers/

Archived version:
https://archive.md/URhAj

#MaineDrought #ClimateDiaryMaine #ExtremeDrought #ClimateChange

Large parts of New England are facing #WaterRestrictions amid rare #drought conditions

Ayesha Rascoe, October 5, 2025

"RASCOE: When you think of droughts, the first place that comes to mind probably isn't New England, but a dry summer has led to low water levels in large parts of Massachusetts. Most of the state is under significant drought conditions, and that means water restrictions and an increased risk of brush fires. To talk about this and when it may end, we turn to Ken Mahan. He's the lead meteorologist at The Boston Globe. Welcome to the program.

KEN MAHAN: Thanks for having me, Ayesha.

RASCOE: How bad are these drought conditions throughout the state right now?

MAHAN: So the entire state as a whole is running what we call abnormally dry, which means that we've seen a prolonged period of precipitation reaching substantially below average. The Capes specifically are in a level of severe and moderate drought, and along Route 2 in northern Massachusetts is in a moderate drought as well, all stemming from the beginning of summer after a rather wet spring. But yes, this is becoming more common, and unfortunately, we've seen back to back and now back summers where we've seen less than average precipitation across the state.

RASCOE: Well, can I ask you - you said that it's becoming more common. We always have to ask, like, is this climate change?

MAHAN: Yeah, unfortunately, a big piece of it is climate change. When you do have a warming atmosphere and warming sea surface temperatures, then that is going to naturally change the way the atmosphere behaves. You think of the jet stream. The jet stream is the highway in which weather patterns traverse across the country. And over the last few summers, we've seen that jet stream become a little bit more to the north or diving down to the south of New England, which simply redirects storms away.

RASCOE: So what you're saying, just in layman's terms, is that the atmosphere conditions are changing, and so the jet streams are not bringing the storms and the water precipitation that they usually would to Massachusetts. They're sending them elsewhere.

MAHAN: That's absolutely correct. And also, with more heat in the atmosphere, it could hold more water vapor. And unfortunately, during the summer when we need precipitation the most, the storms that do come through are much weaker.

RASCOE: So can you give us a sense of how unusual it is for it to be this dry right now?

MAHAN: Well, you think of Massachusetts - I was looking at the data. This summer alone, Massachusetts saw anywhere between 2 to 7 inches of rain deficit from June 1. That has brought down 70% of stream flows and groundwater storages statewide, so that is a pretty significant drop. Northern New England as a whole - they saw the driest summer on record dating back nearly 130 years, with rainfall deficits over the summer reaching a foot, which is...

RASCOE: Oh.

MAHAN: ...Pretty astonishing."

Read more / listen:
https://www.npr.org/2025/10/05/nx-s1-5560912/large-parts-of-new-england-are-facing-water-restrictions-amid-rare-drought-conditions

#ClimateChange #ZeroDay? #Drought #ExtremeDrought #Massachusetts #NPR #PublicRadio #FossilFuels #FossilFools #ExxonKnew #ShellOilKnew #BigOilKnew #TrumpSucks #ClimateDiary

#Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry

Climate Summary – August 2025

"Globally, August 2025 is the third hottest on record with the hottest and second-hottest Augusts occurring in 2023 and 2024, respectively. In Maine, August temperatures ranged from normal to slightly above average, with an overall average temperature of 64.8°F – roughly 1.8°F warmer than normal historical temperatures. Mid-August brought record-breaking high temperatures in Caribou at 94°F, and Millinocket at 95°F, with a heat wave that carried through much of the state. Temperatures are expected to return to normal through September and are likely be above average from October through January (National Weather Service).

Total rainfall statewide was below normal in August with an average total of only 1.93 inches, which is approximately 1.58 inches less than historic averages for the state in August. As the pattern of reduced rainfall this summer continues into September, we are continuing to see consistent #drought conditions for much of the state. At the end of August, an estimated 86% of Maine was experiencing some level of drought, and approximately 53% of those areas affected were under severe drought conditions. With a continued rainfall deficit, drought in the southern two-thirds of Maine will persist into September, but may decline over the coming months as rain totals are expected to be close to normal in October and November (National Weather Service). Soil moisture is forecasted to be below 70% percentile for much of the state through October (U.S. Drought Monitor).

Severe drought conditions may lead to yellowing foliage, premature leaf drop, dry soil, low water levels in streams, reservoirs, and wells, and, at times, can lead to increased fire danger. Maine Forest Service (#MFS) Rangers continue to recommend checking the daily Wildfire Danger Report and consult with local fire officials before conducting any open burning."

Source: Emailed newsletter

#ClimateChange #ClimateDiary #ExtremeHeat #RecordBreaking #ExtremeDrought #MaineClimateDiary #ClimateDiaryMaine #MDACF

Why are there so many leaves falling? Is this an early autumn?

By Jesse Ferrell, AccuWeather meteorologist and digital producer

Aug. 22, 2025 10:02 AM EDT

"Have you seen a lot of leaves turning colors or even falling off the trees this August? A lot of people on social media have posted about this subject during the last few weeks, asking, 'Is it an early fall?'

"Well... don't get out the pumpkin spice lattes just yet. Although astronomical autumn doesn't start until Sept. 22, more leaves are falling than usual this time of year due to drought, causing what scientists call "tree stress." Since the beginning of August, drought has developed in areas of #NewEngland, #NewYork, #Pennsylvania, and #NewJersey."

Read more:
https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/live-news/clearing-the-air-leaves-are-falling-but-its-not-autumn-yet/1798333

#ExtremeDrought #Drought #NortheastUS #ClimateChange

Yikes! Rapidly spreading #BrushFire prompts evacuations for thousands in #California

#CanyonFire in #Ventura county, north of #LosAngeles, is a ‘very dynamic situation’ and 0% contained, officials say

Gabrielle Canon, Fri 8 Aug 2025

"Hundreds of firefighters and first responders are working to contain a rapidly growing brush fire in a mountainous area of #SouthernCalifornia that has forced thousands of evacuations.

"The Canyon fire erupted in a rural, sparsely populated area of Ventura county on Thursday afternoon and quickly exploded in size, spreading east into Los Angeles county. The blaze covered roughly 4,800 acres (20.2 sq km) by 11pm, according to authorities.
By Friday morning, firefighters were boasting significant progress, reporting the fire’s perimeter was 25% contained. But fire conditions remain precarious, with temperatures up to 100F and low humidity. Moisture-levels on the brush-covered hillsides are at a record low in the region, and the parched vegetation has fueled the fire’s spread.

"Firefighters battled through the night to protect homes and other buildings, and to take advantage of lower temperatures. By Friday morning, they were seeing subdued fire behavior according to Andrew Dowd, spokesperson for the Ventura county fire department.

" 'They were putting it all on the line to bring this fire under control,' he said. One firefighter reported a minor injury, but no civilian injuries were reported. No single-family or multi-family residences were destroyed, but two minor structures were destroyed.

" 'Air attack and ground crews aggressively attacked the fire to limit its spread and protect residents and structures in the fire’s path,' Los Angeles county officials wrote in an incident update issued on Friday, adding that hard work and operational efficiency stopped widespread damage 'even as the high heat and dry conditions pushed the fire’s growth'.

"Firefighters are hoping to corral some of the perimeter on Friday, even with scorching daytime [temperatures] that could contribute to extreme fire behavior. The blaze remains a 'very dynamic situation', Dowd said.

" 'Extreme heat and low humidity in our north county have created dangerous conditions where flames can spread with alarming speed,' the LA county supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents the district, said in a statement. 'If first responders tell you to leave, go – without hesitation.'

"The new blaze comes as a huge wildfire in central California became the state’s largest blaze of the year, threatening hundreds of homes and burning out of control in the Los Padres national forest.

"The #GiffordFire had spread to more than 99,200 acres (400 sq km) by Friday morning and was at 15% containment. It grew out of at least four smaller fires that erupted last Friday along State Route 166, forcing closures in both directions east of Santa Maria, a city of about 110,000 people. It has injured at least four people. The causes of the fires are under investigation.

"Wildfire risk will be elevated through the weekend across much of inland California as a heatwave gripping the area intensifies.

"But fire activity across California and parts of the American west is also expected to spike in the weeks to come as high temperatures collide with the strong winds that are more prevalent in the autumn months.

" 'In southern California, the threat is driven by persistent drought, high grass loads, and weakening coastal moisture,' according to a wildfire forecast by the state’s fire department.

"Vegetation is already dangerously dry in the state, especially in southern California where thick brush and desiccated shrubs can quickly turn ignitions into infernos, and the coming heat will bake more moisture out of the landscapes.

"Fires will be more challenging to control and are expected to exhibit extreme behavior, according to an advisory issued from federal fire analysts this week, which said the mountains and deserts of southern California were seeing 'record dry levels'."

Source:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/08/california-canyon-fire

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/Xmhsy

#ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #WildfireSeason #Wildfires #ExtremeDrought #Drought #CaliforniaWx #WildfireWx