Record Snow Drought Hits Western US

Lack of snow raises concerns over water shortages and wildfires

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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A record snow drought with unprecedented heat is hitting most of the American West, depleting future water supplies, making the region more vulnerable to wildfires, and hurting winter tourism and recreation. Scientists say snow cover and depth are at the lowest levels in decades, with at least 67 Western weather stations measuring their warmest December through early February on record.

Why it matters

The lack of snow is a major problem for the Colorado River Basin, which relies on a robust mountain snowpack to provide a steady flow of water throughout the year for agriculture, cities, hydropower, and more. The snow drought could also lead to an early and severe wildfire season as the ground dries out faster without the insulating snow cover.

The details

Much of the precipitation that would normally fall as snow is instead falling as rain, which runs off quicker. Experts say the record-low snowpack is mostly due to the extreme warmth in the West, which is connected to climate change from the burning of fossil fuels. Oregon, Colorado, and Utah have reported their lowest statewide snowpack since the early 1980s.

  • 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.
  • A dry January has meant most states have received half their average precipitation or even less.

The players

Mark Serreze

Director of the National Snow and Ice Data Center, who has been in Colorado almost 40 years.

Jason Gerlich

Regional drought early warning system coordinator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Trevor Stephens

A resident of West Jordan, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City.

Daniel Swain

Researcher at the University of California's Water Resources Institute.

Daniel McEvoy

Researcher with the Western Regional Climate Center.

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What they’re saying

“I have not seen a winter like this before. This pattern that we're in is so darned persistent.”

— Mark Serreze, Director, National Snow and Ice Data Center (ksgf.com)

“Right now there's no snow on the ground. I'd definitely rather have icy roads and snow than whatever is going on out here right now.”

— Trevor Stephens (ksgf.com)

“This is a pretty big problem for the Colorado basin.”

— Daniel Swain, Researcher, University of California's Water Resources Institute (ksgf.com)

“It was so warm, especially in December, that the snow was only falling at the highest parts of the mountains. And then we moved into January and it got really dry almost everywhere for the last three to four weeks and stayed warm.”

— Daniel McEvoy, Researcher, Western Regional Climate Center (ksgf.com)

“I don't think there's any way we're going to go back up to, you know, average or anywhere close to that. But at least we can chip away at those deficits a little bit if it does get more active.”

— Russ Schumacher, Professor of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University and Colorado State Climatologist (ksgf.com)

What’s next

Meteorologists expect wetter, cooler weather across the West this week with some snow, which may provide some relief, but experts are not optimistic it will be enough to fully address the snow drought.

The takeaway

The record-low snowpack in the Western US, driven by extreme warmth linked to climate change, poses a serious threat to the region's water supplies and wildfire risk. This highlights the need for proactive measures to adapt to the changing climate and ensure the long-term sustainability of water resources and ecosystems in the West.