2026’s historic snow drought is bad news for the West

In an alarming turn of events, winter 2026 has marked a significant lack of snowfall across the Western United States. Many ski resorts have resorted to artificial snowmaking, yet some have opted to close their winter operations prematurely. Concerns are rising among fire officials and water resource managers as they brace for the challenges of summer. In Boise, Idaho, temperatures escalated to the low 80s Fahrenheit (high 20s Celsius) in mid-March, while Phoenix experienced an intense heat wave, with temperatures reaching 105°F (40°C). Typically, by April 1, water managers and hydrologists anticipate the mountain snowpacks to be at their peak, serving as crucial natural reservoirs for agriculture and communities during the scorching summer months. However, the current water year has proven to be anything but typical. The ongoing snow drought is nearly without precedent. According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, out of approximately 70 river basins monitored in the Western U.S., only five are meeting or exceeding the median snow water equivalent from 1991 to 2020 for this period. Most of these fortunate basins are located around the Yellowstone area in western Wyoming and eastern Idaho. In stark contrast, 11 basins report less than 25% of the historical median, with more than half falling below 50%. This troubling scenario impacts the headwaters of vital rivers such as the Colorado, Columbia, and Missouri, which are situated in basins significantly below historical averages. Other critical indicators of snow water storage and ecosystem health, including the extent and duration of snow cover in the region, also reveal that snow reserves are alarmingly low compared to recent years. It is important to note that despite the snow drought, the Western U.S. has not been entirely devoid of precipitation. However, due to elevated temperatures since the water year commenced in October, much of what would typically have fallen as snow has instead manifested as rain, further complicating the situation.