Current:Home > ScamsLake Mead's water levels rose again in February, highest in 3 years. Will it last? -Capitatum
Lake Mead's water levels rose again in February, highest in 3 years. Will it last?
View
Date:2025-04-13 09:30:14
Lake Mead's water levels stayed high again last month amid a historic water shortage, rising again and passing January's mark to become the highest point in nearly three years.
According to measurements taken at the end of February by the Bureau of Reclamation, Lake Mead's water levels were reported to be 1,076.52 feet, higher than levels taken at the end of January, when they were measured at 1,072.67 feet.
Prior to this year, the most recent highest level was recorded in April 2021, when it was measured at 1079.30 feet.
The lake's water levels remained high in the month following the heavy winds, rain and snow that moved through California in January from an atmospheric river weather event, also known as a "Pineapple Express."
Earlier this month, a blizzard pounded Eastern California and the mountains along the Nevada border in a powerful storm that dumped heavy snow and brought howling winds with gusts that hit 190 mph.
Water levels projected to fall
Although water levels remain high for now, experts previously told Newsweek that it would depend on future storms to fill the reservoirs in Lake Mead and Lake Powell in Utah and Arizona.
The recent water levels may be the peak for Lake Mead for the foreseeable future, according to a 24-month operation plan from the Bureau of Reclamations, which estimates levels wills steadily drop over the remainder of 2024, ending 17 feet lower by December.
In 2025, the projection estimates that water levels may be at its lowest since the 1930s, when the lake was filled.
Pineapple express:Satellite shows California snow after atmospheric river, but it didn't replenish snowpack
Where is Lake Mead?
Lake Mead is reservoir in Nevada and Arizona formed by the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River, and is the largest reservoir in the U.S. in terms of water capacity.
It was first flooded in 1935 when the Hoover Dam was created, and provides water to Arizona, California, Nevada and some of Mexico.
What were Lake Mead's water levels in 2023?
Lake Mead's water levels rose slowly throughout 2023, although the measurements were lower than in the previous two years. Water level measurements began at 1,046.97 feet in January and ended at 1,068.18 feet in December.
The lake has experienced record lows in water levels in recent years, with the first water shortage announced in 2021 after years of chronic overuse and drought.
Despite the recent higher water levels, Lake Mead's launch ramp remains closed due to climate change and the 20-year ongoing drought that has "reshaped the park's shorelines," according to the National Park Service, which operates a recreation area on the lake.
Is the Southwest still in a drought?
Some areas of the Southwest are still in drought, although nearly all of California is no longer under that classification. Drought areas in California are in the north along the Oregon border, the east along the Nevada border and the southeast along the Arizona border.
Lake Mead, which spans across Nevada and Arizona, is currently reporting abnormally dry to moderate drought levels, according to the Drought Monitor.
Much of Arizona is classified as D0 (abnormally dry), with patches of the state in D1 (moderate drought) and D2 (severe drought), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Almost all of New Mexico is under drought, with many areas of the state reporting D1 (moderate drought) and some areas reporting D3 (extreme drought) and D4 (exceptional drought) levels.
veryGood! (31469)
Related
- The company planning a successor to Concorde makes its first supersonic test
- You may be missing out on Social Security benefits. What to know.
- Text scams, crypto crackdown, and an economist to remember
- Supreme Court sides with Jack Daniel's in trademark dispute with dog toy maker
- Woman dies after Singapore family of 3 gets into accident in Taiwan
- Live Nation and Ticketmaster tell Biden they're going to show fees up front
- A New Plant in Indiana Uses a Process Called ‘Pyrolysis’ to Recycle Plastic Waste. Critics Say It’s Really Just Incineration
- A 3-hour phone call that brought her to tears: Imposter scams cost Americans billions
- Hackers hit Rhode Island benefits system in major cyberattack. Personal data could be released soon
- When insurers can't get insurance
Ranking
- IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
- 'He will be sadly missed': Drag race driver killed in high-speed crash in Ohio
- The OG of ESGs
- And the award goes to AI ft. humans: the Grammys outline new rules for AI use
- The company planning a successor to Concorde makes its first supersonic test
- Police investigating after woman's remains found in 3 suitcases in Delray Beach
- Peter Thomas Roth Flash Deal: Get $133 Worth of Skincare for Just $43
- Some cancer drugs are in short supply, putting patients' care at risk. Here's why
Recommendation
Woman dies after Singapore family of 3 gets into accident in Taiwan
Instant Pot maker seeks bankruptcy protection as sales go cold
Shell plans to increase fossil fuel production despite its net-zero pledge
This Kimono Has 4,900+ 5-Star Amazon Reviews, Comes in 25 Colors, and You Can Wear It With Everything
Could your smelly farts help science?
Community and Climate Risk in a New England Village
Amazon must pay over $30 million over claims it invaded privacy with Ring and Alexa
Texas Study Finds ‘Massive Amount’ of Toxic Wastewater With Few Options for Reuse