Culture
The Warming Climate Could Scorch America's West
Globe-spanning belts of moisture are gradually moving north, spelling droughts for a bunch of new regions, say researchers.
Long-lasting drought has been the force behind several of this year's American calamities. Hot temperatures and scarce rainfall set the stage for the explosive development of California's Rim Fire, turned Utah into one big disaster zone, and prolonged the worst drought in Colorado since the 1950s.
These western areas should brace themselves for even more onslaughts of ugly parching, according to a new study that suggests a warmer climate will bake them (as well as many other places) like a Spicy Wing Zing under a 7-Eleven heat lamp.