Shifting Seasons: The changing snowpack
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Oregon Cascades play a huge role in our daily lives. Changes in the snowpack impact everything from water supply to wildfire season.
Every winter, snow falls, setting up spring skiing and the water we’ll use all year. As snow melts, it feeds into our streams, rivers, and reservoirs. But, longer-term climate changes are altering this cycle, and the effects are being felt across Oregon. In the last 40 years alone, the snowpack has declined about 25%.
Larry O'Neill, Oregon's State Climatologist, explains some of the changes the Pacific Northwest is experiencing and how changes in the snowpack impact Oregonians.
A warming climate means shorter wet seasons, longer dry spells, more rain, and less snow. While more rain might sound good, snowpacks are crucial for capturing water and releasing it slowly.
These changes might seem small, but they have big effects on your everyday life – from recreation to water availability and power.
Skiers and snowboarders may see shorter seasons, affecting tourism. Drier, hotter summers could mean longer, more intense wildfires. Water shortages could hit farmers, firefighters, and fishermen. And species sensitive to changes, like salmon, honeybees, and crops like potatoes, could be impacted.
The snowpack in the Cascades is changing, with less snow and more rain over time. Humans will have to adapt to these changes. And while we can't change the snowpack directly, we can all do our part to protect the environment.
