Abnormal snowmelt is sweeping across Washington state and much of the West, with rapid snowpack depletion raising concerns about future drought conditions.
SEATTLE — Abnormal snowmelt is sweeping across Washington state and much of the West, with rapid snowpack depletion raising concerns about future drought conditions, wildfire risk and water supply, according to a special update released Tuesday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Despite near-to-above-average snow accumulation earlier in the season, warm temperatures and dry conditions have led to accelerated melt rates across Washington’s mountains. Many basins in the state are now classified as being in late-season snow drought.
“Snowmelt this
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