More than 64 million people are directly affected by drought in the Southwest and Southern Plains, and far more are indirectly affected because of the vast number of farms, orchards, and ranches that supply the rest of the United States.
Reservoirs, lakes, and mountainsides are brimming with water and snow, though scientists caution that underground aquifers are a long way from having the same bounty.
Temperatures across much of the region in 2018 have been well above the norms, while precipitation has been well below—a recipe for struggling farmers and concerned forest fire managers.
Snow cover in late March 2015 was significantly lower than the previous worst year on record. The landscape change is stark since 2010, the last time the region saw average snowfall.
Flying over the Sierras in a Twin Otter aircraft, NASA scientists are finding new ways to measure the amount of water stored in the winter snowpack with greater accuracy than ever before.
Acquired September 24, 2002, this natural-color image shows part of Mt. Hood National Forest, including the volcanic peak that gave the area its name. Park boundaries are outlined in white.