Why are summers dry in the West Coast?

In the Northern Hemisphere summer, high pressure in the Pacific Ocean builds toward the California coast, resulting in a northwesterly airflow, creating the cool, dry, and stable weather conditions prevalent along the West Coast in summer.

Why is California so dry in the summer?

The state has a Mediterranean climate, which means wet, mild winters and warm, dry summers. But California uses most of its water in the summer, a lot of it to grow irrigated crops. To help boster water supplies in summer, farms and cities alike rely on water melted from Sierra Nevada snowpack.

Why is the West Coast of the US so dry?

Three main factors contribute to the natural phenomenon of drought: snowpack, soil moisture and temperatures. The Western states depend on snowpack for a good portion of their water supply. And right now, the soil across the region is exceptionally dry.

Why is California coast so dry?

Because temperatures are about 2 degrees Fahrenheit hotter, on average, now than 50 years ago, soil moisture is drying out more quickly. That means higher fire risk in shrubs and trees. And less water from melting Sierra snow flows into rivers and reservoirs, instead soaking into the arid ground.

Why is the West heating up?

The heat comes from a high pressure system over the West, a buckle in the jet stream winds that move across the U.S. and vast swaths of soil sucked dry by a historic drought, said Marvin Percha, a senior meteorologist for the agency in Phoenix. “The record-breaking heat waves came in August and September.”

Why is the southwest US so dry?

Background. The American Southwest might evoke images of a hot, dry landscape—a land of rock, canyons, and deserts baked by the sun. Indeed, much of this region has low annual rainfall and seasonally high temperatures that contribute to its characteristic desert climate.

Are the wells drying up in California?

Now, after two dry years, reports of dry wells are worsening and spreading in many new areas, leaving more families like O’Brien’s with no drinking water. Despite the law, about 2,700 wells across the state are projected to go dry this year, and if the drought continues, 1,000 more next year.