Last updated on October 1, 2020
We’ve had some unusual weather conditions in Las Vegas recently. One day, the night air will be cool, another day it’ll be warm, and another day, there will be no night air at all. And in early September, we had some orange and smoky skies as a result of wildfires raging across our neighboring state of California. However, one of the most significant weather changes observed this year has been the absence of our monsoon season—or the presence of a “nonsoon” season.
The period from mid-June through September is normally characterized by a significant amount of rain in the valley as well as in the Mojave Desert. At present, we are experiencing a “record-breaking stretch” [1] without much rain at all. Sure there’s been the occasional drizzle here and there, but it is definitely not the normal weather we would expect at this time. In fact, it has been 163 days since the last measurable rainfall occurred in Las Vegas on April 20, 2020 [2].
This is a major concern because many of our desert species in the surrounding areas could be impacted. Not only does a drought mean there’s not enough water to go around, but it could also impact the overall environment. In the complex food web of the desert (or any other place), if certain prey organisms are not obtaining enough water, the populations of predators will be negatively impacted. When the prey starts dying off, so will the predators. The entire system will be disrupted.
A recent “event” we can turn to for reference of what may happen in Vegas with the extended drought is the recent incident with birds dropping dead across New Mexico. Though it’s not for certain, some scientists speculate that the drought has depleted insect populations, a major source of food for these birds [3]. Regardless, with all the weather changes in the past year and climate change appearing to get worse, an extended drought is most definitely a reason for concern if we want to ensure the conservation of species here in Las Vegas.
Image Credit: https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/weather/monsoon-season-arrives-in-las-vegas-valley-more-rain-possible/
[1] https://lasvegassun.com/news/2020/sep/26/this-years-monsoon-season-more-like-a-nonsoon/
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