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I don't think this is getting talked about enough. Do you think this may be compared to the Dust Bowl in the central US of the 1930's? It hasn't reached that level yet, but could.
Like the Dust Bowl, could there be great migrations out of the Southwest to places like the Pacific Northwest or the Great Lakes?
Considering how much people love living where there is desert mountain scenery, it's scary how much worse the water situation will get before people living there begin considering moving away. With more people affected, it could get worse than the Dust Bowl. For the time moving, I hope people thinking about moving to the drought stricken west are having second thoughts about it.
The Pacific Northwest is subject to severe drought, so I doubt they would go there. However, most of the nation east of the Mississippi River doesn't get prolonged droughts as bad, so they would probably move there in significant numbers.
Wouldn't be surprised if the center of population for the US shifts east for the first time ever in history by the 2030 census. Objectively it technically had to happen eventually. Seems like that tipping point is fast approaching if it hasn't already happened.
The belief that this is going to suddenly cause a mass exodus of people to the east is shortsighted, as is the belief that any place in this country will be "spared" by climate change. The southeast already sucks in the summer, and it's gonna get a helluva lot hotter. That will increase the likelihood of droughts and wildfires.
FWIW, 80% of the water from the Colorado River basin goes to agriculture, not drinking water or lawns. Farming will be the first industry to take major hits.
Good thoughts above. I brought this topic up mainly for those who have kids today. Won’t effect me but the young are going to inherit a much different world if climate change continues. All signs are it will.
Western drought, and the knock-on impacts (wildfires/smoke), helped spur our latest move back to the Great Lakes region (after 30 years in AZ / CA / OR).
To be sure, there were some other reasons as well.
We’re a few miles from the source of 90% of the continent’s surface freshwater. I don’t mind that one bit.
Humans are reactive creatures though. It would take a lot to move the needle ala 30s Dust Bowl.
Different scenarios, as a dust storm is not the problem. But no or little precipitation can create similar conditions. But the same possible outcome. Trust me, I live in the desert.
The Pacific Northwest is subject to severe drought, so I doubt they would go there. However, most of the nation east of the Mississippi River doesn't get prolonged droughts as bad, so they would probably move there in significant numbers.
New England gets severe to extreme droughts too. Coastal PNW (Vancouver, Seattle, Portland) usually doesn't have it too bad.
US Govt, copyright-free
Last edited by Guineas; 08-16-2022 at 09:35 PM..
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