But ancient sequoia trees, which have been decimated by severe wildfires around California’s Sierra Nevada, are struggling to keep up with ever worsening conditions. “Mass fires”The southern Sierra, hard hit during the 2012-2016 drought, has become an epicenter for tree mortality. As a result, forests have an abundance of smaller trees, where fires can start before spreading to mature trees. Paltry snowpack melted out early this year, reaching zero percent in the southern Sierra on May 24 — just two days later than last year. The 2021-22 water year has been the third-driest on record in the southern Sierra, behind 2020-21 and 1976-77.

Source: Washington Post June 15, 2022 07:02 UTC