Record snowfall and rain have helped to alleviate drought conditions in parts of the western United States. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that California's exceptional and extreme drought had been wiped out for the first time since 2020 due to winter precipitation. However, groundwater and reservoir storage levels remain at historic lows, and experts warn that the relief may be temporary. The extra moisture is unlikely to have an immediate impact on water levels in Lake Mead, and water managers will still have to limit water use due to the reservoirs' predetermined release and retention operations. The NOAA has also warned of elevated flood risks in the upper Midwest along the Mississippi River due to heavy snowpack this spring.
Photo Credit: Sergey Shmidt
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