Western Snowpack Vanishes Amid Record Heat, Sparking Drought and Wildfire Fears

Scant snowpack across the Mountain West raises concerns about water supplies and fire risks this summer

Apr. 8, 2026 at 3:39pm

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After the warmest winter on record for many states and a blistering March heat wave, the American West is facing a summer of serious wildfire risks and a drought that could force broad water restrictions. New measurements show most of the Mountain West won't be able to rely on melting snow, the region's largest water source, because there's hardly any snowpack left. Scientists warn the conditions will lead to very little fresh water flowing out of the mountains this spring and summer, with forecasts of stream and river volumes being among the smallest ever observed.

Why it matters

The lack of snowpack is exacerbating tensions over water in the West, as the federal government works on a new plan to divvy up the Colorado River's dwindling flows. Water utilities across the region have already started calling for conservation efforts, though most are voluntary so far. The dry conditions have also elevated fire dangers across much of the West, with more than 1.6 million acres burned in wildfires across the country in the first three months of the year - more than twice the average.

The details

Snowpack, which builds up over the winter and spring, provides a larger, steadier and less ephemeral source of water than rain. But this year, a record-warm winter and a March heat wave across the West broke monthly temperature records in more than a dozen states and wiped out much of the already thin layer of winter snow. Across the upper Colorado River basin, snowpack was about 52% of the median historical amount on March 1, and had diminished to just 23% of the median by April 1.

  • Through much of the winter, temperatures were simply too warm for it to snow, and precipitation fell as rain instead.
  • A March heat wave across the West broke monthly temperature records in more than a dozen states and wiped out much of the already thin layer of winter snow.
  • On April 1, snowpack across the upper Colorado River basin had diminished to just 23% of the median historical amount.

The players

Nels Bjarke

A research scientist with the Western Water Assessment at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Noah Molotch

A professor of hydrology at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Karla Nemeth

The director of the California Department of Water Resources.

Tyrone Gant

The president of the Denver Board of Water Commissioners.

Kyle Roerink

The executive director of the Great Basin Water Network, a Nevada-based advocacy group.

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What they’re saying

“It's going to be a seriously dry summer ahead.”

— Nels Bjarke, Research scientist, Western Water Assessment, University of Colorado, Boulder

“This is not our first drought, and we will get through this challenging time, but we need everyone to help out this summer in case drought conditions persist into next year and beyond.”

— Tyrone Gant, President, Denver Board of Water Commissioners

“This might be what it takes to get us to truly adapt to 21st century realities. If we believe what the top scientists are saying, this isn't the worst it's going to get in the 21st century.”

— Kyle Roerink, Executive director, Great Basin Water Network

What’s next

The federal Bureau of Reclamation is writing a new plan to divvy up the Colorado River's dwindling flows, which will better reflect the decades of drought that is forecast to continue as the climate changes in the West.

The takeaway

The lack of snowpack across the American West this year is a stark reminder of the realities of climate change, and the urgent need for the region to adapt its water management practices to a drier future. The looming water challenges will require significant infrastructure investments and a shift in how communities use and conserve this precious resource.