Background Information: Drought

Climate models for our region tell a mixed story—some predicting a wetter future, others predicting a dryer future. On average, these models predict longer dry spells between rain events, with heavier rain when storms do occur. A sixfold increase in the likelihood of major drought by 2050 and longer dry periods in general will put increased stress on trees and our community’s water supply. Drought and flooding have an important relationship: longer periods without rainfall punctured by stronger storms can also increase the likelihood of flooding, as we’ll explain below.

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