Sandy LawrenceClimateCentral: “Climate change intensifies record-breaking early-spring heatwave across the West.” It is raining up on the Mt. Baker ski areas as I write this. They have halted skiing over the next 4 days because of an ‘atmospheric river,’ + describe temperatures above freezing with “heavy rain [coupled with] heavy winds” as of Monday afternoon. The climate scientists state that “a prolonged stretch of unusually high temperatures will push highs 20°F to 30°F above normal across much of the western United States this week, with dozens of daily records expected…human-caused climate change is making this heat more likely [up to 5 times more in places such as Santa Fe, Denver, Salt Lake City +Boise] and will also accelerate snowmelt, during a year already marked by widespread snow drought across the region.”
As stated by the National Weather Service, “…many locations are likely to set both all-time high temperatures for the month of March and their earliest 100° temperature on record.” Started with an Extreme Heat Watch in effect for Southern California and parts of Arizona, where high temperatures are expected to reach between 95°F and 105°F. Parts of California’s Coachella Valley are forecast to experience temperatures ranging from 106°F to 115°F. For context, recall that the last day of winter this year is not until March 20th.
“The western U.S. is also experiencing a widespread record-breaking snow drought this year due to warm winter temperatures…final wave of unusually high temperatures will only exacerbate snowmelt ahead of April 1, which is typically the date of peak snow water equivalent—the maximum amount of water stored in the snowpack and available for spring melt.”
If this plays out as expected, it’s going to be slim pickings by April first, which is no laughing matter. Notably,Climate Central will have an update on that day.
As stated by the National Weather Service, “…many locations are likely to set both all-time high temperatures for the month of March and their earliest 100° temperature on record.” Started with an Extreme Heat Watch in effect for Southern California and parts of Arizona, where high temperatures are expected to reach between 95°F and 105°F. Parts of California’s Coachella Valley are forecast to experience temperatures ranging from 106°F to 115°F. For context, recall that the last day of winter this year is not until March 20th.
“The western U.S. is also experiencing a widespread record-breaking snow drought this year due to warm winter temperatures…final wave of unusually high temperatures will only exacerbate snowmelt ahead of April 1, which is typically the date of peak snow water equivalent—the maximum amount of water stored in the snowpack and available for spring melt.”
If this plays out as expected, it’s going to be slim pickings by April first, which is no laughing matter. Notably,Climate Central will have an update on that day.
