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This story is part of The State of Science, a series featuring science stories from public media journalists across the United States. It features reporting by David Condos from KUER.
While parts of the eastern and southern US have had unusually high snowfall this year, the West is in a snow drought. The abysmal winter sports season is just the tip of the melting iceberg: Snowpack is key to providing water throughout the year for the drought-stricken region. Joining Host Flora Lichtman to talk about this unusual winter are reporter David Condos and climate scientist Brad Udall.
Further Reading
- Utah is in a snow drought. Here’s why that’s bad for more than skiers, via KUER
- Snow Drought Hits the Western United States, Worrying Experts About the Region’s Water Supply, via Smithsonian Magazine
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Segment Guests
David Condos
David Condos is the Southern Utah Reporter at KUER based in St. George.
Brad Udall
Brad Udall is a senior water and climate research scientist at Colorado State University’s Colorado Water Center.
Segment Transcript
The transcript is being processed. It will be available 2-3 days after this story’s publication date.
Meet the Producers and Host
About Flora Lichtman
Flora Lichtman is a host of Science Friday. In a previous life, she lived on a research ship where apertivi were served on the top deck, hoisted there via pulley by the ship’s chef.
About Kathleen Davis
Kathleen Davis is a producer and fill-in host at Science Friday, which means she spends her weeks researching, writing, editing, and sometimes talking into a microphone. She’s always eager to talk about freshwater lakes and Coney Island diners.