Drought in USA?

[Bolster]

Interesting graphics at the URLs below, PreventionWeb.net.

The first indicates disaster stats in USA from 1980-2010, with storms causing the most damage.

But the second portrays risks for USA, and drought is far and away the leading risk. In fact, if I understand the grapic correctly, the USA is ranked 3rd out of 124 for risk of drought! 26 million Americans exposed, it says.

http://www.preventionweb.net/english/countries/statistics/index.php?cid=185

and

http://www.preventionweb.net/english/countries/statistics/risk.php?iso=usa

A map here indicates that the draught would be located in the southwest. (Go to the Hazard/Risk tab and choose a hazard below.) Los Angeles again, dagnabbit.

http://www.preventionweb.net/english/maps/index.php?cid=185

[Syclone538]

I just kind of figured the south west was in a permanent drought.

[Babynine]

In Wisconsin we depend on snow melt to a degree to keep the lake levels up, and we had almost no snow this winter. Since I am a organic gardener, I have already been speaking of the potential for a local drought since early January.

Also with the unusually warm winter I have witnessed flying insects many times this winter, including when camping January 10-11. We are not supposed to see flying insects here in Wisconsin in the months of Jan and Feb. At least I dont ever remember seeing them.

I think if it is a dry spring, gardening(and farming) may be tough this year locally. And if we have a wet spring to make up for the very dry winter, I feel we may be in for a very bad season for insects. I'm hoping not the ones that eat crops.

We just never seemed to have the extended cold period(or snow) that we usually have here, and I'm guessing that is why I have seen so many more insects so far this year.