根据国家海洋和大气管理局的说法，困扰西部几十年的特大干旱不仅预计将持续，而且干旱条件也可能加剧并向东部扩展。
美国国家海洋和大气管理局的科学家周四在月度气候电话会议上说，美国大陆约55%的地区正在经历干旱，这可能会在大平原地区恶化，特别是中部和南部平原，如德克萨斯州和俄克拉荷马州。
这些地区将在周五经历极端的火灾危险，因为干旱的地貌和地面燃料使情况恶化允许野火爆发。据NOAA称，随着夏季月份的临近，该地区的降雨量可能会远远低于平均水平。
西部许多地方已经连续三年遭受干旱，却看不到任何明显的复苏迹象。
加州和内华达州已经打破了今年的干旱记录，此前它们都经历了有记录以来最干旱的一月到三月。科学家们说，这是一年中该地区通常雨雪最多的时候，这使得统计数据更加令人担忧。加州的积雪量目前只有平均水平的30%。
贾斯汀·沙利文/盖蒂图片社，文件
在这张2022年3月28日的档案照片中，浮标位于亚利桑那州佩奇鲍威尔湖Wahweap码...
到目前为止，2022年，加州只收到了正常降水量的15%。2021年，加州同期降雨量是正常降雨量的65%。
据美国国家海洋和大气管理局称，今年很可能是有记录以来最热的10年之一。根据NOAA的数据，从全球来看，三月是有记录以来第六个最热的月份，全球5%的地区都观测到了创纪录的三月高温。
科学家说，在夏天刚刚过渡到秋天的南极洲，一个站达到了有史以来的最高温度，温度一度比平均温度高出70度。
研究表明，气候变化正在加剧美国西部干旱的范围、严重程度和持续时间。科学家们说，这场干旱可能会在2022年给美国造成数十亿美元的损失。
Megadrought out West expected to intensify, expand east: NOAA
The megadrought that has plagued the West for several decades is not only expected to persist, but drought conditions will also likely intensify and expand east, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
About 55% of the continental U.S. is experiencing drought conditions, which will likely worsen in the Great Plains, particularly the central and southern Plains, such as Texas and Oklahoma, NOAA scientists said during a monthly climate call Thursday.
These areas will be experiencing extreme fire danger on Friday as conditions are worsened by the arid landscape and ground fuel thatallows wildfires to explode. The region will likely see well below the average precipitation as the summer months approach, according to NOAA.
Many places in the West have been experiencing drought for three consecutive years without any significant recovery in sight.
California and Nevada are already breaking records for dryness this year, after they both had their driest period of January through March on record. This is the time of year that the region typically receives the most rain and snow, making the statistic all the more concerning, the scientists said. California's snowpack is currently at 30% of its average.
So far in 2022, California has only received 15% of its normal precipitation. In 2021, California received 65% of its normal precipitation during this same period.
This year will likely be among the top 10 warmest on record, according to NOAA. Globally, March was sixth warmest on record, and record warm March temperatures were observed across 5% of the global area, according to NOAA.
In Antarctica, where summer just transitioned to fall, one station reached its highest temperature ever recorded, and temperatures at one point were up to 70 degrees above average, the scientists said.
Research indicates that climate change is contributing to the extent, severity and duration of the drought in the Western U.S. The drought is likely to cost the U.S. billions of dollars in 2022, the scientists said.
