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Brown lawns, fallow fields and higher water bills are all the predictable outcomes of the California drought.
The Golden State is in the midst of its driest period on record. But all that warm, dry weather affects more than just lake levels and snowpack — it has some downright weird effects, too. From pipe-eating poop to more roadkill, here are some of the strangest results of the California drought.
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1. Pipe-eating poopPeople are still pooping as much, so each flush contains more waste with less water to flush it through the system. The waste that is broken down creates hydrogen sulfide, which eats through the concrete in the pipes
2. More roadkill
Since the drought means less greenery and animal food, animals must take bigger risks to reach food and water sources — even when that means crossing dangerous roads and highways. As a result, roadkill incidence may be increasing in the Golden State
3. Send in the snakes
With fewer water sources away from homes, rodents are likelier to venture into peoples' homes. Rattlesnakes then follow, lured by their main prey
4. Kitten bonanza!
cats react to warm weather just as people on a Hawaii vacation might — by getting busy
5. Pest growth
pests such as scorpions and spiders reproduce like crazy in the dry, warm conditions
What's the weirdest thing about the drought for you, ye Californian Soylentils?
Original Submission
(Score: 4, Interesting) by snick on Thursday July 16 2015, @04:12PM
The last few years have been dry in the sense that we've gotten very little precipitation, and in particular _very_ little snow. (Which is the majority of CA's water storage)
But at least near me, the summers have been slightly cooler than normal (in terms of high temps, not in terms of average over time) and much more humid. Instead of having days of 100+ degrees with low humidity, we've been getting days of 80-90 degrees and (for us) high humidity. Even rain in July. WTF?
We keep getting told that we are moving toward hot + dry, but from the ground it looks more like a shift to more tropical climate. We would need a metric shit-ton more rain to be functionally tropical, but hot + dry isn't whole story.
(Score: 2) by dyingtolive on Thursday July 16 2015, @04:26PM
Interestingly, Missouri has seen a milder summer and more rain this year. This might have been the first summer I've had that I didn't seriously consider trying to flee to Canada.
Not saying it's related, but just an observation.
Don't blame me, I voted for moose wang!
(Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Thursday July 16 2015, @05:54PM
We keep getting told that we are moving toward hot + dry, but from the ground it looks more like a shift to more tropical climate.
I don't know who is telling you that but it's a La Nina year.
La Nina=Cool and Wet
El Nino=Hot and Dry.
Unfortunately, from what I have been reading it's not a very strong La Nina and isn't expected to cure the drought.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by snick on Thursday July 16 2015, @06:13PM
That depends on where you are.
In Southern and Central California, El Nino means a wet winter. La Nina means a dry winter. Summer is normally hot and dry, regardless.
My original post was mostly about summer temperatures seeming to be moving into a different pattern over the last decade. (non-systematic observation ... looking out the window and tsk-tsking that weather isn't what it used to be)
(Score: 2) by Hawkwind on Thursday July 16 2015, @08:08PM
The impact of El Nino is wet for California. Any chance you're an Aussie? Annoyingly, the current El Nino started too late to help us and there's a good chance it'll end before the rainy season begins.
This list. Haven't heard about any of these in my region outside this list. As this summer is rather mild compared to most I've sweated through I wonder if it means roadkill, rattlesnakes, kittens, and buggy critters are on the decline in my area.
I like buzzing LiveScience.com on the weekends but I wonder if this reporter bothered to look beyond his/her corner of the state.