Scientists and weather experts are warning that the western United States is facing a record snow drought this winter. Snow levels and snow cover are much lower than normal for this time of year. Many weather stations have reported some of the warmest winter temperatures on record.
The problem stretches across most of the West, especially in states like Oregon, Colorado, and Utah, where snowpack is at historically low levels. This lack of snow also affects major water basins, such as the Upper Colorado River Basin, which supplies water to millions of people. Many mountain areas that usually store snow for spring runoff are unusually bare. This makes the drought regional, not just a local one.
A dry January has meant most states have received half their average precipitation or even less. Along with sunny days and higher-than-average temperatures, that’s meant little snow buildup in a month that historically gets a lot of snow accumulation across much of the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies. Because of heavy rains in December, California is in better shape than the other states, scientists said. As of Monday, it had been 327 days since Salt Lake City International Airport got 1 inch of snow, making it the longest stretch since 1890-91, according to the National Weather Service.
Because there isn’t much snow to melt in the spring, experts are worried about water shortages and higher risk of wildfires. The drought is caused by a combination of warm temperatures, dry conditions, and low precipitation. Less snowfall means reservoirs and rivers will not refill as much as they normally do. This creates dry land and forests that can catch fire more easily during the warmer months.
