States reliant on Colorado River fail to meet the latest deadline to find consensus The seven Western states that depend on the Colorado River missed a deadline for the second time Saturday to agree on a plan addressing record drought and water shortages. #ColoradoRiver apnews.com/article/colo...

Soaring coffee prices rewrite some Americans’ daily routines Climate issues — drought in Vietnam, heavy rain in Indonesia, and hot, dry weather in Brazil — are blamed for reducing yields of coffee crops and driving up global prices. #coffee #drought apnews.com/article/coff...

Lake Powell sinking toward record low as states miss deadline for Colorado River drought deal For the first time, the Bureau of Reclamation’s most probable forecast shows that Lake Powell could fall below 3,490 feet in elevation in December of this year. #drought www.sltrib.com/news/environ...

Great piece out today in Physics Today on historical origins, contemporary relevance, & fundamental irreplaceability of the National Center for Atmospheric Research, which remains at imminent risk of dismantling for partisan political reasons.

The eastern parts of the U.S. are much drier than normal, according to the calculated soil moisture anomaly in mm. #SoilMoisture #drought 🧪 www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/Soi...

Cargill to close Wisconsin beef plant, cut 221 jobs Beef prices remained near record highs amid strong demand and low supply. U.S. beef packers have had to pay more for the livestock that they slaughter and process and were losing money. #cattle #beef #drought www.reuters.com/business/car...

Nearly 100% of Florida in drought, worsening fears of wildfires, water shortages Millions of Floridians are living in drought conditions intense enough to warrant burn bans and water shortage warnings as the fire danger climbs. #Drought #Florida www.tallahassee.com/story/weathe...

After a relatively dry week, drought worsened across the continental US with no areas of improvement on the US Drought Monitor. Drought covers 46.6% of the nation, a jump of 2.07 points from last week. #drought #DroughtMonitor 🧪 droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap.a...

A transition from La Niña to ENSO-neutral is expected in February-April 2026 (60% chance), with ENSO-neutral likely persisting through the Northern Hemisphere summer (56% chance in June-August 2026). #ENSO #LaNina #ElNino 🧪 www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/ana...

Japan weather bureau says 60% chance of El Nino in summer There is a 60% chance of the El Nino pattern occurring in the summer, Japan's weather bureau said. In the spring, there's a 50% likelihood of El Nino occurring and a 50% chance of normal conditions continuing. www.reuters.com/business/env...

Amid drought, Colorado River standoff flares Some Colorado River Basin states appear to be bracing for litigation as the deadline for a plan all seven states can agree to looms without consensus. Snowpack in the Colorado River basin looks bleak. #SnowDrought www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_n...

Bison hunters abandoned long-used site 1,100 years ago to adapt to changing climate, Great Plains study finds Droughts reduced the water available for processing animals at a bison kill site in central Montana. #drought #bison #Montana 🧪 phys.org/news/2026-02...

Colorado landscape plants, trees, need winter watering during warm, dry weather Colorado State University Extension specialists recommend supplemental watering to prevent root damage and promote healthier spring growth. www.denvergazette.com/2026/02/10/c...

State water officials are asking towns and industry along the North Platte River to assess their water rights and whether they might have to tap into an emergency water bank. For now, those with "junior" rights must shut off their spigots. Read more ➡️ wyofile.com/drought-trig...

Percent of normal precipitation across the US for the past 60 days. Large swaths of the country in red have received 50% or less of normal. A few small pockets colored green/blue/purple have gotten more than normal. #precipitation #drought 🧪 hprcc.unl.edu/maps.php?map...

Sixth year of drought in Texas and Oklahoma leaves ranchers bracing for another hard summer #Drought cost the agriculture industry in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas an est. US$23.6 billion in lost crops, higher feed costs and selling off cattle from 2020-2024 alone. theconversation.com/sixth-year-o...

Record snow drought in Western US raises concern for water shortages and wildfires An epic snow drought with unprecedented heat is hitting most of the West, depleting future water supplies, raising the wildfire danger, and hurting winter tourism and recreation. #drought apnews.com/article/west...

Western US snowpack is worth trillions of dollars The Colorado River, supplying drinking water and irrigation to vast croplands, is mainly driven by snowmelt. The river generated an estimated $1.4 trillion in annual economic activity, per a 2014 report. #water #value 🧪 waterdesk.org/2026/02/west...

Oregon’s Snow Drought Leads to Indefinite Closures With unseasonably warm temperatures and rain eroding an already thin snowpack, Hoodoo Ski Area, Mt. Hood Skibowl, Mt. Ashland, and Willamette Pass have been forced to adjust or pause operations. #SnowDrought #drought www.saminfo.com/news/sam-hea...

2025 was Hawai‘i’s second driest, warmest year on record Hawai‘i had its second driest year in more than a century. The state was warmer than normal throughout the year, according to the inaugural Hawai‘i Annual Climate Report for 2025. #Hawaii #drought 🧪 mauinow.com/2026/02/05/n...

Worsening snow drought in the West will have cascading impacts Prolonged drought across much of the West has been worsened this winter by low snowfall and persistent warmth, fueling an intense snow drought. The West’s water supplies and winter tourism are in jeopardy. abcnews.go.com/US/worsening...

Areas of drought expanded across the West, South and Florida, with a few pockets of improvement in New Mexico and the Northeast. Drought covers 44.53% of the nation, an increase of 1.49 points. The snow drought persists in the West. #drought #DroughtMonitor🧪 droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/S...

Scientists create the most detailed groundwater map yet — with big implications for the West The map estimates how deep groundwater sits beneath the surface with greater accuracy, with detail down to areas about 100 feet across. #water #groundwater 🧪 www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2026-02-02/s...

Drought, climate change affect quality of well water Study shows 15-25% of private groundwater wells used for drinking water in Colorado's San Luis Valley contain elevated levels of arsenic, uranium and other heavy metals. #drought #water #Colorado 🧪 www.alamosacitizen.com/drought-clim...

Agave or bust! Mexican long-nosed bats head farther north in search of sweet nectar Mexican long-nosed bats migrate from Mexico to the Southern U.S. The bats seek agave plants for nourishment, but ongoing drought has hindered the flowering of agave plants. #drought 🦇 apnews.com/article/enda...

The US Monthly Drought Outlook shows that drought may change little in February. Pockets may develop (yellow) in the Southern Plains, on the Gulf Coast and in Florida. Drought may improve/be removed (tan/green) in Louisiana and along the East Coast. #drought 🧪 www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/exp...

ICYMI: As California's glaciers disappear, people will see ice-free peaks exposed for the first time in millennia www.latimes.com/environment/...

One of the most popular national park sites lost a million visitors in 2025 Glen Canyon National Recreation Area has weathered years of drought, and fewer people are visiting. #GlenCanyonNationalRecreationArea #drought #NationalPark www.sfgate.com/national-par...

U.S. Cattle Inventory Hits 75-Year Low at 86.2 Million Head USDA’s annual report reveals the smallest total herd since 1951, with beef cow numbers falling to 27.6 million despite a slight uptick in replacement heifers. #CattleInventory www.drovers.com/news/industr...

NASA scientists join US Drought Monitor team Ben Cook, with the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies at Columbia University, and Jonathan Case, with the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center and the University of Alabama-Huntsville, are the newest USDM authors. 🧪 ianrnews.unl.edu/article/nasa...

Nebraska officials respond after student struck by vehicle displaying Trump flag A student was struck by a vehicle during an anti-ICE rally Thursday in front of Fremont High School. The SUV, which displayed a Trump flag, fled the scene. #Nebraska #protest www.newsfromthestates.com/article/nebr...

Much of the West has received 50% or far less of mean snowfall since Oct. 1, 2025, while the Southern Plains to northeastern U.S. has received more snow than usual. The map shows percent of mean accumulated snowfall across the U.S. from Oct. 1, 2025 through Jan. 28, 2026. #snow 🧪 mrcc.purdue.edu

The US Drought Monitor shows some improvement in areas affected by last weekend's massive winter storm. Drought worsened in parts of the West, the Plains and Florida. Drought covers 43.04% of the contiguous US, a drop of 0.97 points from last week. #drought 🧪 droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/S...

Drought, cold disrupts river freight in Midwest The wintry weather in the Midwest has frozen parts of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, exacerbating drought-caused low water levels and impeding traffic along a key transportation lane for commodities. #drought www.bakingbusiness.com/articles/655...

The Western US Faces Snow Drought The mountains of the western US have had average or above-average precipitation in fall and early winter, and warmer temperatures meant that much of it fell as rain. Snowpack is unusually low in the West. #SnowDrought #drought 🧪 science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-...

Grizzly Spotted In Yellowstone, Biologist Says One Of Earliest Sightings On Record A grizzly spotted out wandering in Yellowstone National Park on Monday might be up from hibernation incredibly early or awake incredibly late. #grizzly #Wyoming #Yellowstone cowboystatedaily.com/2026/01/28/j...

Global Warming At 3 °C By 2050? What’s Behind The New German Climate Warning German scientists warn global warming is accelerating faster than expected, raising the risk of a 3 °C rise by 2050 and forcing Europe to face unthinkable adaptation plans. #ClimateChange 🧪 worldcrunch.com/focus/green-...

Colorado water officials plan for “exceedingly grim” drought forecasts, low reservoir levels As warm, dry conditions continue in the West, the forecasts for the amount of water flowing through the Upper Colorado River Basin keep dropping. #ColoradoRiver #drought 🧪 coloradosun.com/2026/01/28/c...

Drought monitoring in the Potomac River basin for the Washington, D.C. area Daily drought monitoring of the Potomac River began on Jan. 5 because the river flow fell below 2,000 cfs. Drought monitoring in January is unusual. #drought #WashingtonDC #water 🧪 www.potomacriver.org/news/daily-d...

The North American Drought Monitor shows that drought in Canada has eased over the past month, worsened slightly in the US, and improved marginally in Mexico. #drought #DroughtMonitor #NADM #Canada #Mexico 🧪 droughtmonitor.unl.edu/NADM/Home.aspx

Tapping into risk in America's drinking water Researchers devised the first publicly accessible Drinking Water Utilities Climate Risk Index for the US, a comparative tool that measures the risks drinking water systems face from climate events like droughts, etc. #water 🧪 phys.org/news/2026-01...

The weekend has been extremely cold, but winter will soon give way to spring.

More than 7,800 research grants terminated or frozen. Some 25,000 scientists and personnel gone from agencies. Proposed budget cuts of 35% — amounting to US$32 billion. These are just a few of the ways Donald Trump has downsized and disrupted US science go.nature.com/4sTPWdp

‘Snow drought’ may result in extra release from Flaming Gorge Wyoming’s water managers warn that a significant drawdown of Flaming Gorge Reservoir this spring is likely imminent due to low snowpack and generally dry conditions in the Colorado River Basin. #drought wyofile.com/snow-drought...

7K Austin Energy customers affected by power outage Drought has caused a buildup of dust and pollen on power line insulators. When combined with drizzle and mist, this creates an electrically conductive slurry that can cause electrical shorts and fires. #drought cbsaustin.com/news/local/t...

To see the U.S. Drought Monitor as it is released on Thursday mornings for the latest on drought developments, follow the National Drought Mitigation Center @droughtcenter.bsky.social 🧪

Snow accumulation across the U.S. since Sept. 30, 2025 is shown on the map. This will look quite a bit different in a few days. Much of the West is lower than usual on snowpack. In the Southeast, the Florida panhandle, Alabama and Georgia received some snow for a change. #snow #snowpack 🧪

Bitterly cold air is spilling south from Canada. Notice the temperatures around-20°F and below in North Dakota and Minnesota. Brrr. #weather #cold #WhereIsSpring #HowLongUntilSpring data.mesonet.org/data/public/...

Drought Magnifies and Complicates Climate Change’s Impact on the Grid Drought is a systemic threat to the electric grid. Like other weather extremes, it undermines supply, drives up costs, and exposes weaknesses in infrastructure planning. #drought #ElectricGrid 🧪 www.rtoinsider.com/123647-droug...

Drought worsened in small pockets across the US, particularly in East TX and AR, with small areas of improvement in the Upper Midwest and Northeast. Drought expanded to cover 44.01% of the continental US, an uptick of 1.46 points. #drought #DroughtMonitor 🧪 droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/S...