Record Snow Drought Hits Western US, Raising Concerns

Lack of snow raises risks of water shortages and wildfires in the region

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 snow depth are both at the lowest levels they've seen in decades, while at least 67 Western weather stations have measured their warmest December through early February on record.

Why it matters

The lack of snow buildup in the mountains means less water will replenish rivers like the Colorado later in the season, which is a major problem for the Colorado River Basin that provides water for agriculture, cities, and hydropower. The snow drought also raises concerns about an early start to the wildfire season, as the lack of snow leaves the ground exposed to warmer weather that can dry out soils and vegetation more quickly.

The details

Much of the precipitation that would normally fall as snow and stay in the mountains for months is instead falling as rain, which runs off quicker. The warmth has been so extreme that in many areas, snow was only falling at the highest parts of the mountains in December, and then it got very dry in January. Meteorologists expect wetter, cooler weather across the West this week with some snow, but scientists aren't optimistic the snow will be enough to make up the deficits.

  • Since December 1, there have been more than 8,500 daily high temperature records broken or tied in the West.
  • 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.

The players

Mark Serreze

Director of the National Snow and Ice Data Center, who has been in Colorado almost 40 years and says he has not seen a winter like this before.

Jason Gerlich

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

Daniel Swain

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

Daniel McEvoy

Researcher with the Western Regional Climate Center.

Russ Schumacher

Professor of atmospheric science at Colorado State University and Colorado State Climatologist.

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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 (nbcnews.com)

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

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

What’s next

Meteorologists expect wetter, cooler weather across the West this week with some snow, which may help chip away at the snow drought deficits, though scientists are not optimistic it will be enough to fully make up for the lack of snow so far this winter.

The takeaway

The record-low snowpack and unprecedented warmth in the American West are clear signs of the impacts of climate change, with less snow accumulation and earlier snowmelt threatening water supplies and increasing wildfire risk in the region. This winter's snow drought highlights the need for proactive water management and climate adaptation strategies to build resilience in the face of these growing challenges.