Snowpack Season Was Lack-Luster: USDA Meteorologist says drought trends won’t end anytime soon

“We’ve seen near-record dryness. Very little, if any, snow on the ground...”

With spring just around the corner, snowpack season will soon be ending. Out west, this year’s accumulations have been rather lack-luster.

According to Brad Rippey, “We’ve effectively had one storm that occurred back during earlier in February across the southwest. Beyond that, it has just been drips and drabs from time to time. We’ve seen near-record dryness. Very little, if any, snow on the ground— that is leading to significant spring and summer water supply in areas that depend on runoff from snowpack. That, unfortunately, incorporates significant portions of the Colorado River Basin, which has been trying to claw its way out of long-term drought the last two winters.”

Rippey says that unfortunately, it does not look like these drought trends will end anytime soon.

Related Stories
New Nebraska wildfires near containment, but damages still mount for ranchers across the region.
Widespread drought and extreme weather leave producers managing limited resources
Nebraska Farm Bureau President Mark McHargue joined us to discuss wildfire recovery efforts in the state, impacts to agriculture, and conditions heading into the spring planting season.
Dry conditions remain a concern as Texas farmers prepare for another planting season.
Rising fuel costs will soon increase grain transportation expenses.
Firefighters are making good progress on two major wildfires burning across parts of Nebraska.