Being one of the wettest ones recently, this winter has made almost 100 percent of the state free of drought. For the first time in 7 years, California has been declared drought-free.
Consequently, the heavy rain and snowfall have contributed to the emergence of the most beautiful flora. The U.S. Drought Monitor’s latest survey reported that there has been an extraordinary turnaround from the dire and prolonged spells of dry weather that had been common in recent years.
The dry spells have destroyed irrigation supplies to farmers and vegetation, leading to strict water restrictions throughout households, as well as disastrous wildfires.
Yet, a small patch of the southernmost region, as well as the majority of San Diego County, are still labeled “abnormally dry” on the drought map index, and the Oregon border is in a threatening state as well.
Now, it is the first time since December 2011 that almost 100% of the state has been declared drought-free. This came as a result of the fact that the last winter season was one of the wettest recorded in the state, and a few Pacific storms have successfully replenished lakes and reservoirs. Therefore, the Sierra Nevada mountain snowpack had a well above the normal supply of fresh surface water, and about 580 Billion gallons of water have been added to reservoirs across the state.
Therefore, the lakes and reservoirs are full, streams are flowing, and there is a lot of snow, so the draught is officially gone.
Yet, according to Jessica Blunden, a climate scientist with the National Climatic Data Center at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, such swings in weather patterns are in the era of climate change, and dry conditions can easily return.
#DroughtMonitor declares #California drought-free — only a tiny 6% remaining “abnormally dry” — as precipitation and snowpack totals surge far above year-total averages long before typical year-end measures. via @SacBee https://t.co/YMbThxSIGp pic.twitter.com/rbu44JBtC4
— CalWA (@CAWaterAlliance) March 15, 2019
Super blooms generally only occur once every decade, but this one is the second super bloom that California is witnessing just a few years apart.
“It’s been a great winter for the West.” The California drought is officially over after more than seven years. https://t.co/ruF84zK4uW
— Joel D. Anderson (@byjoelanderson) March 15, 2019
According to The Los Angeles Times, the painted lady populations, which are among the butterfly species that have seen a decline in recent years are migrating by the millions across southern California, due to the super bloom. Experts claim that it has been almost 14 years since such massive numbers have been recorded.
Art Shapiro, an ecologist at UC Davis and state butterfly researcher, claims that the more plants, the more butterflies, so every single year with a real big bloom in the desert is potentially a big year for painted ladies as well.
Undoubtedly, Nature apparently loves these new changes. The widespread bloom and tremendous growth of vegetation are extremely beautiful, and residents admire the flower-filled meadows and rolling hills.
Numerous people posted photos of the flowering California, celebrating the new Spring, as they believe they have been blessed with a super bloom that can be seen once every decade.
Source: educateinspirechange.org
Comments