US weather outlook highlights spring flooding risk

Enlarge / Below-average snowpack in the Sierra Nevada on March 3. (credit: NASA EO)

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration put out its latest monthly update Thursday, this time focused primarily on the flooding risk around the US as spring arrives. The unusually warm winter has put the country in a bit of a split personality: some parts of the US are at risk for flooding, while others can expect worsening drought, instead.

With the notable exception of cooler weather in Alaska, the continental US ended up at the sixth warmest winter (December, January, February) on record. Although warmer temperatures meant below-average snowfall for a good portion of the country, the eastern half saw above-average precipitation overall-more of it simply fell as rain.

The western US, meanwhile, saw low precipitation in many areas, contributing to drought conditions. That includes California, where the snowpack is currently well below average despite a round of good snowfall this week.

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