Insights and Stories on Drought

Mar. 19, 2015 at 6:28 pm CDT

Chicago | Reuters — Drought pressures will increase in California and western areas of the U.S. this spring even as the dry season begins, the government’s Climate Prediction Center said Thursday. “Periods of record warmth in the West and not enough precipitation during the rainy season cut short drought relief […]

By Christine Stebbins

Mar. 18, 2015 at 6:05 am CDT

Sacramento | Reuters — Water regulators in California voted on Tuesday to outlaw watering the lawn within 48 hours of a rainstorm, the latest effort to spur Californians to conserve as the state enters its fourth year of drought. Facing a dramatic slowdown in voluntary conservation efforts by property owners, […]

By Reuters

Mar. 13, 2015 at 3:38 pm CDT

San Francisco | Reuters –– Washington state Governor Jay Inslee declared a drought emergency across three regions including key agricultural hubs of the U.S. Northwest state on Friday, citing near-record-low snowpack levels ahead of the spring runoff. Watersheds on the Olympic Peninsula, east side of the central Cascade Mountains including […]

By Rory Carroll

Feb. 12, 2015 at 5:44 pm CST

Wellington | Reuters — New Zealand has declared a drought in parts of the country’s South Island, offering financial assistance and tax relief to farmers after dry conditions have cut dairy production and increased sheep and beef slaughter rates. The government on Thursday said medium-scale drought conditions were affecting the […]

By Naomi Tajitsu

Feb. 6, 2015 at 5:55 pm CST

Los Angeles | Reuters — A so-called “atmospheric river of rain” began falling on northern California on Friday, bringing worries about flash floods, high winds and mudslides but offering little relief to a state left parched by several years of drought. The storm, also known as a “Pineapple Express” because […]

By dan-whitcomb