This little hummingbird was trying to weather a rare blizzard advisory issued in Western Washington. The blizzard-like winds occurred but lacked the sort of snow depth a person might expect because of a blizzard. Snow depth was less because the true snow line was at a higher elevation than where I live.
Western Washington State saw the warmest December on record in 2023. 2023 is the warmest year on record around the globe. Overall rainfall averages on the west side of this state during 2023 is about five (5) inches less than is typical. The Federal Climate Prediction Center predicts the warmer pattern will continue from January to April 2024 in Western Washington. Even if the snowpack is close to average over the next couple of months, then the problem invariably is a quicker melt-off and fewer snow reserves to feed into the rivers and tributaries.
El Nino conditions are expected to continue in the United States for most if not all of 2024. It generally means drier than normal conditions. Drought is additive. It means that each year of drought, adds up and requires all deficits to be made up.
Places that are in years of drought-like conditions, such as San Diego, California are now freshwater-dependent importers for nearly 80% of the local population's drinking water demands, according to the San Diego Coastkeeper's website. San Diego has been in a moderate drought since 2021 and was considered "abnormally dry" during 2023. It is hard to understand why the San Diego area is flooding and at all-time high flood levels. These flooding events like in the San Diego area during January 2024 don't mean the region is out of the drought. Drought will continue. An episode of flooding contaminates flooded houses and agriculture fields with sewer water and will likely create human health consequences.
It is harder to plan if we are stuck on what "used to be". Those days are gone. It is time for individuals to demand climate action and for the wealthiest to help pay for the crisis, or you will be held personally responsible for the losses that doing "business as usual" played in creating the crisis. It is a global crisis, and we have to plan for this uncertainty now. My legal strategies can assist you in holding private businesses, industries, and governments accountable for their fair share. Contact me for more information!
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