20 September 2022
Now that summer’s heat is over we may be fooled into thinking climate change is no longer affecting us. Unfortunately, above normal temperatures are predicted for most of the U.S. for the next three months. Southeastern Alaska is the only place with any chance of being cooler than normal.
Heat and drought often go hand in hand.
The seasonal drought outlook through the end of 2022 indicates New England will finally see a break in their drought, perhaps hastened by rain from a downgraded hurricane. But there is no help for the American West where the drought persists and gains new ground (see yellow on the map).
The drought in California is particularly dire.
Why does this matter to the rest of us? Because the worst drought is in the Central Valley and that’s where more than half of the U.S. fruits, vegetables, and nuts are grown.
(photo credits in each caption; click on the captions to see the originals)
One of the biggest problems we have in California is water storage. The precious rain water we get just washes into the ocean. They haven’t built any new water storage here in years.