Pat Shingleton for November 4, 2009
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The University of Utah’s Snow Optics Lab has monitored the amount of dust in the American West. More than 12 dust storms, blowing from Arizona, Utah and New Mexico, into the Rockies, are depositing brown and red stains on mountain snow. This dust causes snow to melt faster than normal and is cited in high water levels in rivers and reservoirs. Evidence also suggests the recent growing season could have been compromised by rivers prematurely running dry. The dust storms accompany a greater problem of drier, warmer conditions that accelerate an increase in dust and soot. These conditions disrupt mountain snowpack and runoff. Climatologists say dust levels are approaching conditions like the 1920s.
Fastcast: Sunny, dry.
Sunny, with a high near 77. Calm winds becoming northerly around 5 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 53. Northerly winds around 5 mph becoming calm.
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