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4mo ago

Record-Breaking Snowmelt in Western US Sparks Water Supply and Wildfire Concerns

Above-normal temperatures and minimal precipitation have caused unprecedented snowpack loss, intensifying drought and fire risks across the region.

Nyland Property is seen with dry brush on hills during the California Central Coast Prescribed Fire Training Exchange (Cal-TREX) burn in San Juan Bautista (San Benito County) on June 4, 2023.
Vehicles travel along Highway 50 during a snow storm near Echo Lake (El Dorado County) on Feb. 13.
A firefighter uses a drip torch to ignite a controlled burn at the Pacific Union College Forest in Angwin, California.
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Overview

  • The western United States is experiencing record-breaking snowmelt due to widespread heat and below-average precipitation, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS).
  • Nearly all major river basins in the region are in a late-season 'snow drought,' with some areas reporting less than half the normal snow levels for this time of year.
  • The rapid snowmelt has significantly reduced runoff into rivers and reservoirs, leading to plummeting water supply forecasts for the Colorado River and Rio Grande basins since early April.
  • Drying soils and vegetation from accelerated snow evaporation are creating conditions favorable for an early and potentially severe wildfire season.
  • With 27% of the Intermountain West now in extreme or exceptional drought, the region faces prolonged summer water shortages and challenges to agriculture, urban water use, and hydroelectric power generation.