US: Avalanches Hit Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah, Injure Skiers and Close State Road

A backcountry avalanche struck Big Cottonwood Canyon on Saturday morning, February 21, prompting a search and rescue response and the closure of State Route 190, causing major traffic disruptions. Two skiers were buried in a separate slide the same day and suffered critical and serious injuries, while another avalanche later injured one person. After heavy snowfall created unstable snowpack, more than 50 avalanches have been reported across northern Utah in 48 hours, and officials warn of extremely dangerous conditions.

US: Storm Slams Sierra Nevada With Heavy Snow, Travel Disrupted

Heavy snowfall continues across the Sierra Nevada, delivering significant snowpack but creating dangerous conditions. Several feet of snow have already accumulated, with some higher elevations expected to receive well over 10 feet before storms taper off next week. Strong winds and intense snowfall have triggered avalanche warnings and reduced visibility, prompting search and rescue efforts after a backcountry avalanche. Travel has been severely impacted, with whiteout conditions and intermittent closures along Interstate 80 near Donner Summit.

U.S. Colorado River basin rejoices from record snowpack while flooding expected

STORY: U.S. Colorado River basin rejoices from record snowpack while flooding expected DATELINE: March 16, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:21 LOCATION: LOS ANGELES, U.S. CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Colorado River near Hoover Dam on the Arizona-Nevada border 2. various of Lake Mead on the side of Nevada STORYLINE: The Colorado River got a jolt in the arm from the 2022-23 winter thanks to the snowpack that is melting and swelling streams and rivers. The river, a parched lifeline in the U.S. southwest, supplies water to some 40 million people in seven states. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which manages the Colorado River basin, said in its latest projection in January that the water level of Lake Mead, the biggest reservoir in the country, could drop close to the lowest since the reservoir was initially filled in the 1930s. With an above-average snowpack in the states of Colorado and Utah right now, hopes are that a slow spring melt could help turn things around. As of Tuesday, the lake's water

U.S.-ARIZONA-NEVADA BORDER-WATER LEVELS-RISE

U.S.-ARIZONA-NEVADA BORDER-WATER LEVELS-RISE

(230314) -- HOOVER DAM (U.S.), March 14, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on March 13, 2023 shows the Colorado River near Hoover Dam on the Arizona-Nevada border, the United States. The Colorado River, the parched lifeline in U.S. southwest, which supplies water to some 40 million people in seven states, got a jolt in the arm from the 2022-23 winter thanks to the snowpack that is melting and swelling streams and rivers. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)

U.S.-ARIZONA-NEVADA BORDER-WATER LEVELS-RISE

U.S.-ARIZONA-NEVADA BORDER-WATER LEVELS-RISE

(230314) -- HOOVER DAM (U.S.), March 14, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on March 13, 2023 shows the Colorado River near Hoover Dam on the Arizona-Nevada border, the United States. The Colorado River, the parched lifeline in U.S. southwest, which supplies water to some 40 million people in seven states, got a jolt in the arm from the 2022-23 winter thanks to the snowpack that is melting and swelling streams and rivers. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)

U.S.-ARIZONA-NEVADA BORDER-WATER LEVELS-RISE

U.S.-ARIZONA-NEVADA BORDER-WATER LEVELS-RISE

(230314) -- LAKE MEAD (U.S.), March 14, 2023 (Xinhua) -- A girl plays with water in the shallows of Lake Mead on the side of Nevada, the United States, on March 13, 2023. The Colorado River, the parched lifeline in U.S. southwest, which supplies water to some 40 million people in seven states, got a jolt in the arm from the 2022-23 winter thanks to the snowpack that is melting and swelling streams and rivers. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)

U.S.-ARIZONA-NEVADA BORDER-WATER LEVELS-RISE

U.S.-ARIZONA-NEVADA BORDER-WATER LEVELS-RISE

(230314) -- LAKE MEAD (U.S.), March 14, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on March 13, 2023 shows Lake Mead on the side of Nevada, the United States. The Colorado River, the parched lifeline in U.S. southwest, which supplies water to some 40 million people in seven states, got a jolt in the arm from the 2022-23 winter thanks to the snowpack that is melting and swelling streams and rivers. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)

Extreme drought conditions persist in California

STORY: Extreme drought conditions persist in California DATELINE: July 3, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:32 LOCATION: FERNLEY, U.S. CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of Pyramid Lake amid drought 2. SOUNDBITE (English): CHRIS JONES, Data analyst based in Reno City STORYLINE: The latest data released by the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) showed that California remained mired in extreme drought conditions when the most populous state in the United States entered its tenth month of the 2022 water year. In total, 97.5 percent of the state's land area is in at least "severe" drought status, 59.8 percent in at least "extreme" drought and the driest 11.6 percent in "exceptional" drought, according to the USDM's weekly report update released on Thursday. From January through March 2022, California has only received about half the amount of rainfall recorded in comparison to 2013, which ended up turning into the driest calendar year on record, media reported. In addition, snowpack melted to zero in the souther