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Much of the West is dry — bone dry
Total precipitation for the weather year (starting Oct. 1, 2011) to-date across the West, from the Reno-based Western Regional Climate Center.
By Summit Voice
SUMMIT COUNTY — If you’re missing the snow in Summit County, don’t feel like you’re being picked on. Much of the West, with the exception of a few pockets in Arizona and New Mexico, have been exceptionally dry so far this fall and early winter, with precipitation in California tracking toward all-time record low levels.
Just off the eastern edge of the map below, there’s a pocket of blue and purple indicating above normal precipitation in the southern high plains, and much of Wyoming is also covered by the cooler colors signifying substantial precipitation.
Almost all of California, Oregon, Washington and Nevada are reporting a significant moisture deficit since the weather started Oct. 1.
Regional temperatures
Temperatures across much of the West have been fairly close to average since Oct. 1, with the exception of Montana eastward, where temps have been well above-normal.
Colorado
Colorado temperatures since Oct. 1 generally reflect precipitation patterns, with the coolest temperatures in the areas that have seen the most snow.
Look at the distinct line of precip following the Continental Divide.
Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Environment, La Niña, Summit County news, Weatherblog Tagged: | Arizona, California snow drought, climate, Colorado, drought, New Mexico, weather, West, Wyoming
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[...] through to this article about precipitation over the western U.S. from Bob Berwyn writing for the Summit County Citizens Voice. He’s running all the precip [...]