Southwest prepares for mega drought

Well I'm glad that is done. I'm not sure what difference it really makes since this is likely going to need Federal intervention.
 
Travis said:
Well, what is the line between weather and climate?

In my mind a hurricane is a weather event. A hurricane season is climate.

So anything that has gone on for 13 months would seem to be more of a climate issue rather than a one off weather event. But that's just my take on it.
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Yes, we are definitely dealing with "climate" here.
A couple clarifications--in the article you referenced the quote was "unprecedented in modern times" I'm not sure the source of that evaluation, and I'd have to look up the records (maybe i will) but Im guesing that could be referring to a 50-100 year old record, which in my mind doesn't equate to "unprecedented". Also, it is probably partly based on a subjective analysis, since there have definitely been long periods of persistent blocking in the N Pacific and +PNA patterns in the past. The article you quote (and im acquainted with some of the quotees) implies that the ridge is some solid mountain that hasn't waivered in 13 months, which is certainly not true--there have been periods of time during that 13 months that the ridge/high wasn't there--but obviously something is forcing it to keep reappearing with such consistency (and the tie to ENSO looks weak) so that is reason for concern IMO.

To those who seem to think that we are talking about the "desert" here, we are not, we are talking about the Pacific Coast, and Western mountains, which historically some of the wettest places, not dry.

There is some indication the PNA will turn negative (trough out west) in the next couple weeks, but im not too optimistic. Global patterns (ENSO etc) should become more favorable this March or April, but it may be too late then to salvage CA from a horrendous fire season.
 
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I wonder if this will prompt my neighbors to finally stop watering the concrete driveway every night (I am not making this up).
 
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