Winter never came to Colorado. What does it mean for water supplies? With snowpack at 40% of normal, a CU Boulder hydrologist explains why this year’s snow drought stands out and what it could mean for the Colorado River Basin.

"...it’s not uncommon to see big swings between wet years and dry years. Right now, we are in a very dry period, and the numbers are pretty stark."

Ben Livneh, a CIRES fellow and @wwanews.bsky.social director, spoke with CU Boulder Today about the #SnowDrought.
www.colorado.edu/today/2026/0...

CAUSED AND/OR AMPLIFIED/INTENSIFIED BY HUMANS BURNING FOSSIL FUELS

#Oil
#Coal
#Gas

bsky.app/profile/zack...

www.climatecentral.org/climate-matt...

#Water
#Snow
#SnowDrought
#SnowMelt
#ExtremeHeat
#RecordHeat
#Drought
#Agriculture
#Food
#FossilFuelPollution
#AnthropogenicGlobalWarming

2026's historic snow drought is bad news for the West For much of the Western US, winter 2026 was the year snow never came.

"The record-low snowpack may be a harbinger of what a warmer future will look like in the western US."

arstechnica.com/science/2026... #badnews #coloradoriver #drought #lakepowell #precipitation #rain #snowdrought #snowpack #stresstest #water #waterrights #westernstates #wildfires #wildfireseason

#SnowDrought

Low snowpack and early melt threaten spring runoff on the Colorado River, raising concerns for Lake Powell Record-low snowpack across the Upper Colorado River Basin will likely translate to poor conditions for spring runoff, and could mean emergency action to supplement low water levels in Lake Powell.

"Over the past several years, those minimum probable forecasts have been much closer to accurate than the most probable forecast." — CIRES and @wwanews.bsky.social's Seth Arens discusses how the #SnowDrought will impact spring melt and the #ColoradoRiver
www.aspenpublicradio.org/environment/...

2026's historic snow drought is bad news for the West For much of the Western US, winter 2026 was the year snow never came.

2026's historic snow drought is bad news for the West #Science #EarthSciences #Climatology #SnowDrought #ClimateChange #WesternUS

arstechnica.com/science/2026/03/2026s-hi...

CAUSED AND/OR AMPLIFIED/INTENSIFIED BY HUMANS BURNING FOSSIL FUELS

#Oil
#Coal
#Gas
#FossilFuelPollution

bsky.app/profile/zack...

#ExtremeHeat
#RecordHeat
#SnowDrought
#Water
#Food
#FossilFuelPollution
#AnthropogenicGlobalWarming

Snow Drought Current Conditions and Impacts in the West | March 12, 2026 | Drought.gov NIDIS and its partners release these snow drought updates for the Western U.S. every 4 weeks from December through June.

ICYMI — March 12 #SnowDrought update from NOAA's National Integrated Drought Information System. Snowpack deficits worsened in February + conditions could deteriorate further due to record heat. @wwanews.bsky.social
www.drought.gov/drought-stat...

Largest Wildfire in Nebraska History Burns Nearly 600,000 Acres The largest wildfire in Nebraska’s history is burning out of control, scorching nearly 600,000 acres across the state. Authorities declare a state of emergency as firefighters battle multiple blazes.

CAUSED AND/OR AMPLIFIED/INTENSIFIED BY HUMANS BURNING FOSSIL FUELS

#Oil
#Coal
#Gas
#FossilFuelPollution

meteo24news.gr/english-edit...

#Fire
#RecordHeat
#ExtremeHeat
#ExtremeFire
#DestructiveWinds
#Drought
#SnowDrought
#TemperatureAnomalies
#FossilFuelPollution
#AnthropogenicGlobalWarming

CAUSED AND/OR AMPLIFIED/INTENSIFIED BY HUMANS BURNING FOSSIL FUELS

#Oil
#Coal
#Gas
#FossilFuelPollution

www.facebook.com/share/p/1AoQ...

#Fire
#RecordHeat
#ExtremeHeat
#ExtremeFire
#DestructiveWinds
#TemperatureAnomalies
#Drought
#SnowDrought
#FossilFuelPollution
#AnthropogenicGlobalWarming

Snow Drought Current Conditions and Impacts in the West | March 12, 2026 | Drought.gov NIDIS and its partners release these snow drought updates for the Western U.S. every 4 weeks from December through June.

Warm February further reduces record low snowpack
www.drought.gov/drought-stat...
#watercycle #snowpack #snowdrought #wildfire #water
#hydrology

Snow Drought Current Conditions and Impacts in the West | March 12, 2026 | Drought.gov NIDIS and its partners release these snow drought updates for the Western U.S. every 4 weeks from December through June.

"Record snowpack deficits worsen in February; Conditions expected to deteriorate further with chances for record heat" — #SnowDrought update from NOAA's National Integrated Drought Information System. Work supported by CIRES and Western Water Assessment scientists.
www.drought.gov/drought-stat...

Too much snow or hoping for more? Two different winters hit the US Half of the country is drowning in snow, while the other half is desperate for it. Areas with less snow than usual far outweigh the areas with more.

Too much snow or hoping for more? Two different winters hit the US

This winter, millions in the Northeast have endured rounds of frigid temperatures and mounds of snow. But a different winter has played out across much of the West.

#snow #drought #SnowDrought

www.usatoday.com/story/news/i...

Snow drought helped set the stage for deadly California avalanche, leading to unstable conditions By TAMMY WEBBER A weekslong “snow drought” in Northern California’s Sierra Nevada helped set the stage for Tuesday’s deadly avalanche, after several feet of new snow fell on…

#SnowDrought : "If heavy new snow falls on the crystals, the layers often can’t bond and the new snow forms what is called a storm slab over a weaker layer."

www.mercurynews.com/2026/02/19/s...

Colorado's snowpack woes continue despite recent storms Colorado's state climatologist said long-range forecasts are also not signaling a 'Miracle March.'

Colorado's snowpack woes continue despite recent storms

The West was still on track to see a record low snowpack season in the Rockies. Colorado snowpack was hovering at about 62% of normal entering March after a warm, dry winter.

#SnowDrought #water #ColoradoRiver

www.kunc.org/news/2026-03...

#nativeplants 🌿 LUPINE*Lupinus arbustus) & YARROW leafing out where I’m sitting….six weeks ahead of climate norm

South-facing, 1275m) among ARROWLEAF NALSAMROOT…

Normally, I would be on 1m snow & skis ⛷️ here

#WALLOWAS #OREGON #snowdrought #climateBREAKDOWN

Concordia study finds snow droughts in western and southern Canada could affect nearly all Canadians | News - Concordia University A novel method to track snow water availability shows how small but widespread snowpack declines can ripple across Canada’s water supply

Concordia University: snow droughts in western and southern Canada could affect nearly all Canadians

“This is a creeping drought, a drought that can be very difficult to detect until you are in the middle of a crisis”

#Canada #ClimateCrisis #NoPipelines #ExtremeWeather #Drought #SnowDrought

Growing risks of global wheat from snow droughts - Nature Food Climate change is increasing snow-drought frequency while heightening the vulnerability of major crops to water shortages.

Snow drought exposure now affects ~80% of cropland in the Northern Hemisphere—up from ~50% in the 1960s—increasing vulnerability of winter wheat yields to reduced snowpack: doi.org/10.1038/s430... #ClimateChange #SnowDrought #Agriculture #Yields #Resilience #Modeling >>

Colorado Farmer May Be Forced to Idle 75% of Acres Due to Record-Low Snowpack

After a warm, dry January, key Western river basins are in severe snow drought. A Colorado producer warns tough planting decisions could reshape this year’s crop mix.

#SnowDrought #drought

www.agweb.com/news/crops/c...

This GIF shows how the snow drought has played out in the western US. Fortunately the mountains have been receiving some snow. I’ll update in the coming weeks to see the progression of the snowpack. #snowdrought #oregon #washington

#SnowDrought - new snow didn't have time to bond to the earlier layer... 😳 helped the unexpected #Avalanche❗

#photo Right now….waiting for SUNSIGHT over #IDAHO Snake River Country

Each day, the Earth turns
to greet the Sun.
We are all turning.
The #RUSSIAN turns.
The #URKRANIAN turns.
Even I turn,
w/ my country w/o a name.

🌕 #Sun2Sound 🎵 10 C. above norm #snowdrought #foto #poem

Vancouver Island snowpack levels are lowest in the province: ministry Vancouver Island's snowpack levels are the lowest in the province, suggesting early signs of drought for spring and summer, says the Ministry of Water, Lands and Resource Stewardship.

“Vancouver Island’s snowpack levels are the lowest in the province, suggesting early signs of drought for spring and summer, says the Ministry of Water, Lands and Resource Stewardship.” cheknews.ca/vancouver-is... - @cheknews.ca

#Drought #SnowDrought #SnowHydrology #VancouverIsland

Register for Native #Resilience's upcoming webinar on February 17th. The webinar will discuss preparing for #snowdrought and #waterstress in #Tribalagriculture. Register here: tinyurl.com/nativeresili...

Drought-triggered restriction on North Platte River squeezes spigots for Wyoming towns - WyoFile Though full extent of the water pinch is unknown, the state is asking municipalities to assess potential water service shortfalls.

Due to the low snowpack in the West, a stretch of the North Platte River in Wyoming has restrictions on diversions, and Colorado's Frisco Bay Marina expects slips and the boat ramp to be closed over the summer.

#drought #SnowDrought

wyofile.com/drought-trig...

Western US gripped by extreme snow drought: ‘I’ve never seen a winter like this’ Record snow drought grips the Western US, with snow cover a third of normal in Oregon, Colorado, & U...

Record snow drought grips the Western US, with snow cover a third of normal in Oregon, Colorado, & Utah. Water shortages & early wildfire risks are expected. #SnowDrought #News

Amid drought, Colorado River standoff flares RIVERTON — Some Colorado River Basin states appear to be bracing for litigation as the deadline for a plan all seven states can agree to looms – with no agreement

Amid drought, Colorado River standoff flares

Some Colorado River Basin states appear to be bracing for litigation as the deadline for a plan all seven states can agree to looms without consensus. Snowpack in the Colorado River basin looks bleak.

#SnowDrought

www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_n...

Prolific #SnowDrought Leads to Below Normal Streamflow Forecasts — NRCS Click the link to read the release on the NRCS website: Warm and dry conditions during January drove Colorado snowpack to record low levels statewide. Late month snowfall was insufficient to change…

Prolific #SnowDrought Leads to Below Normal Streamflow Forecasts -- NRCS coyotegulch.blog/2026/02/11/p...

Record snow drought in Western US raises concern for water shortages and wildfires Except for California, most Western states are experiencing the worst snow drought in decades not because of dry conditions but really warm temperatures that change snow to rain

ICYMI: “Record snow drought in Western US raises concern for water shortages and wildfires” abcnews.com/US/wireStory... - ABC News

#CAFire #CAwx #COFire #COwx #Climate #Drought #Environment #Hydrology #IDFire #IDwx #MTFire #MTwx #ORFire #SnowDrought #UTFire #UTwx #Wildfires