Cracked earth in the Joshua Tree National Park, where the National Park Service says severe drought and warming temperatures will likely affect the populations and home ranges of many species.Brad Sutton, NPS
But weather researchers said Wednesday that even if an El Niño occurs, that doesn't assure that parched areas of the Southwest will receive more rain and snow. They also say higher-than-average precipitation is not likely to make up for rainfall deficits in the region over the past year.
The U.S. Drought Monitor says parts of the Southwest are experiencing extreme to exceptional drought, especially the Four Corners region of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona.
Gerry Bell, research meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center, says El Nino rainfall could relieve drought conditions in parts of those states, but drought will persist elsewhere.
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