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Increasing heat wave frequency and severity poses a clear health risk to Nevadans, who can and do suffer illness, hospitalization and death. Heat waves have also been associated with more preterm births.

At warmer temperatures, storms will bring rain instead of snow. A snowpack, which usually would serve as a natural reservoir that steadily provides water, could complicate water management for farms. A lower summer streamflow could affect water recreation like boating, rafting, and fishing in downstream communities.

Less snow could diminish the economic returns of winter sports and recreation to local communities.

Wetter weather encourages growth of cheatgrass, which thrives in the spring and dries out in the summer, providing the fuel for intense wildfires. Combined with drought and changing wind and moisture patterns, Nevada is experiencing more wildfires than before.

Between 1980 and1999, 4.2 million acres were burned by wildfires in Nevada while between 2000 and 2018, an astounding 9.5 million were burned. With that comes increased financial costs; wildfires made up 65.9% of all costs related to major disasters in Nevada in the last decade.

Wildfires upend lives and livelihoods, whether its destruction of property, loss of livestock, or interfering with operations. Nevadans hundreds of miles away from wildfires may still see their health suffer from smoke, especially seniors, young children and those with asthma. Power shut offs aimed at reducing the risk of wildfire can make life difficult for people with medical devices.

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Nevada State Summary

NOAA's summary of key observations and top line messages about…
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Living With Drought

The Living with Drought website provides a one-stop-shop for homeowners, gardeners, farmers,…

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