Extreme Drought Continues, Could be Most Extreme Weather Event This Year

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http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/12/05

It's been overshadowed by other extreme weather events recently, but the extreme drought that plagued the U.S. this summer continues. In fact, according to the Drought Monitor, conditions have worsened slightly across the country. The extreme drought is likely to extend through February and could be the most extreme weather event in the U.S. this year, which is saying a lot in a year that saw a superstorm flood large swaths of New York City and knock out power to millions of people.

Beyond the millions of dollars in lost agricultural yield, the extreme drought threatens the Ogallala Aquifer, the single most important water source in the High Plains regions. A commentator on Climate Progress pointed out that the areas that are suffering from the most severe drought overlap with the Aquifer. As shown below, the overlap is substantial.

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1. things will start getting real now