Western Drought 2020-2022
Climate change is a major contributor to the prolonged and intensifying drought that has impacted the western US since early 2020, as well as the underlying megadrought that has been ongoing since 2000.[1] Rising temperatures due to climate change lead to earlier snowpack melt, increased evaporation from streams and lakes, and increased evapotranspiration from soils and plants. Climate change also increases the risk of seasonal precipitation extremes—including longer and hotter periods with little precipitation that dry out the soil as well as heavier rain and snow events leading to excessive runoff and flooding. Many events have contributed to the severity of the western drought including consecutive dry and warm winters, rapid snowmelt, and record hot summer temperatures.