Last Update: 04/05/2026 at 2:50 PM EST
Warm Winter Shrinks Western Snowpack
Coverage from The Guardian, CityNews Halifax, and others
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Executive Summary
Record warmth cut Western snowpack, threatening water supplies, speeding melt, and raising wildfire risk across California, Colorado and neighboring states.
- California Sierra Nevada snowpack fell to 59 percent of average in midwinter surveys
- Northern Sierra readings were far below average while the southern Sierra held closer to normal
- Warm, mostly sunny conditions turned more precipitation into rain instead of snow
- California reservoirs remain above average this year, but snowpack still drives about 30 percent of supply
- Upper Colorado River Basin snowpack was reported near 62 percent of average, worsening long drought stress
- Scientists said low snowpack and early melt reduce runoff, hydropower and water storage
- Experts warned that warmer winters are increasing wildfire risk as vegetation dries earlier
Quick Facts
- What: Warm winter cut snowpack and raised water risks
- Where: Sierra Nevada, Colorado River Basin and the Western United States
- Why: Record warmth turned snow to rain and sped melt
- Who: California, western state officials and climate scientists
- When: During the 2026 winter and early spring surveys
Coverage Timeline: 1781 Days
Featured Article
In the Western United States, snowpack is well below average this winter, raising wildfire risk and threatening water supplies.
Additional Articles
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Forecasters and climate scientists warned this week in the Sierra Nevada, California, that warm antecedent conditions followed by rapid heavy snowfall produced high avalanche danger and multiple fatalities.
Scientists report that record-low snowpack and record warm winter temperatures across the Western United States in early 2026 are endangering regional water supplies and increasing wildfire risk.
NASA Earth Observatory reports snow drought in western United States in early 2026 due to warmer temperatures.
Warm snow drought conditions in California and the Sierra Nevada are accelerating snowmelt, shrinking snowpack, and increasing wildfire and water-supply risks in 2026.
California state water officials report January snow surveys showing Sierra Nevada snowpack well below average across the western United States.
Researchers report global warming driven rise in hot dry days since recent decades, elevating wildfire risk in temperate and subtropical regions.
Western states in the United States face snow drought as record warmth from February through March reduces snowpack across major basins.
The March 2026 western United States heatwave broke warm records and rapidly reduced California and Upper Colorado Basin snowpack, increasing spring and summer water-supply risk.
California snow surveys found Sierra Nevada snowpack at 18% of average by April 1 after extreme heat, increasing risks for water supply and wildfire management.
California researchers report snowpack decline and heat waves in the Sierra Nevada during this winter.
Climate Central-linked record warmth and a March 2026 heat wave in the western U.S. produced record-low April 1 snowpack, raising water and wildfire risks.
Researchers from institutions in India, Nepal, and the UK report in 2025 that Himalayan winter snowfall and snow persistence are sharply declining, threatening regional water security and increasing mountain hazards.
Researchers from UCLA NASA and the Columbia Climate School report a 22 year megadrought in the southwestern North American region spanning southern Montana to northern Mexico, with aridity likely to persist through 2022 due to anthropogenic warming.
Columbia University researchers report in Science that a warming climate has intensified a megadrought across the western United States and northern Mexico during 2000–2018.
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Portland State University researchers report that Oregon wildfire-burned forest snow in the western Cascades melts faster during rain-on-snow events, increasing flood and water-supply risks.
The National Interagency Coordination Center projected an above-normal wildfire threat across the Western United States for the upcoming summer season based on snow drought, earlier snowmelt, and an extreme heat wave.
On April 1, the National Interagency Fire Center outlook projected significant wildfire potential for southern Wyoming, driven by low snowpack, early heat, and climate change-linked warming.
Russ Schumacher and Daniel Swain report record-low mountain snowpack across the American West after historically warm winter and extreme March heat, increasing dry-season water and fire risks.
Climate scientists in the western US report warm March conditions that melted depleted snowpack, advancing melt schedules and increasing April water and wildfire risk.
California water officials report Sierra Nevada snowpack fell to 18% of historical average on April 1 after late-season March heat accelerated snowmelt.
U.S. wildfire totals through March 27, 2026 exceed the 10-year average as drought, poor snowpack, and unseasonable heat increase risk across the Western United States and Great Plains.
Water managers and researchers report record-low Mountain West snowpack in March, raising Colorado River Basin water-supply, hydropower, and wildfire risks.
World Weather Attribution analysis links record-setting early-spring heat in the US west to climate change, raising drought, water-supply, and wildfire risks.
California water officials report Sierra snowpack at 66 percent of average as February storms arrive, signaling continued drought risk.
Experts warn that historic snowpack decline and a mid-March heat wave across the Colorado River Basin and nearby states will raise summer risks to water supply, Lake Powell power generation, and wildfire conditions.
University of Washington researchers report that warmer winters in the Pacific Northwest increase rain-on-snow and ice-crust formation, altering avalanche risk by region.
Daniel Swain and federal water managers warn record-warm conditions are shrinking Colorado River snowpack, increasing Lake Powell and hydropower risk as interstate water allocation talks stall.
University of Washington researchers, published February 25 in ARC Geophysical Research, project more rain-on-snow ice crusts and avalanche-prone layers in inland Pacific Northwest winters.
In the US West, record-low snowpack during a historic snow drought is increasing water shortage and wildfire risks as unusual warmth linked to climate change accelerates snowmelt.
California and the Southwest confront worsening drought and wildfire risk in 2020 season, stressing water management and prevention costs.
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Washington state officials warn that as summers grow hotter, climate driven drought could trigger the next megafire in the Olympic and Cascade forest regions of Washington.
Climate Central study shows spring warming in 80 percent of major US cities since the 1970s, with longer warm seasons and wildfire risk rising.