American West Grapples with Unprecedented Snow Drought Amidst Record Heat
The American West is currently facing a severe and unprecedented snow drought, compounded by record-breaking heatwaves. This stark climatic anomaly is having far-reaching consequences, significantly depleting crucial future water supplies, heightening vulnerability to devastating wildfires, and delivering a significant blow to the region’s winter tourism and recreation industries.
Scientists are sounding the alarm, reporting that both the extent and depth of snow cover are at their lowest levels observed in decades. Compounding this, at least 67 weather stations across the Western United States have recorded their warmest periods from December through early February on record.
Typically, by this time of year, the American West would boast around 460,000 square miles (1.2 million sq km) of snow cover – an area comparable to California, Utah, Idaho, and Montana combined. However, current data from the National Snow and Ice Data Center reveals this figure has shrunk dramatically to approximately 155,000 square miles, a size no larger than California itself.
Mark Serreze, director of the National Snow and Ice Data Center, who has spent nearly four decades in Colorado, expressed his bewilderment. “I have not seen a winter like this before,” he stated. “This pattern that we’re in is so darned persistent.”
The situation is particularly dire in states like Oregon, where Jason Gerlich, regional drought early warning system coordinator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, confirmed that the snowpack – a vital measure of trapped water – is not only at a record low but is also a staggering 30 per cent below the previous record.
In stark contrast to the bone-chilling cold gripping much of the US east of the Rockies, where some areas are enduring over two weeks of abnormal temperatures, the Western experience is dramatically different. In West Jordan, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City, resident Trevor Stephens recently ventured out in gym shorts and a T-shirt. “Right now there’s no snow on the ground,” he lamented, looking out at a snow-free landscape and bemoaning the lost opportunities for snowboarding. “I’d definitely rather have icy roads and snow than whatever is going on out here right now.”
Mounting Concerns Over Water Supply and Wildfire Risk
The lack of snow has already presented significant challenges for ski resorts, which have been navigating a difficult season. However, the persistent absence of snowfall is now sparking broader concerns about its wider ecological and economic impacts.
Oregon, Colorado, and Utah have all reported their lowest statewide snowpack levels since records began in the early 1980s. A dry January has further exacerbated the situation, with most of these states receiving only half, or even less, of their average precipitation. Coupled with unseasonably sunny days and higher-than-average temperatures, this has resulted in minimal snow accumulation during a month historically known for significant snowfall across the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies. California, however, is in a comparatively better position due to heavy rains experienced in December.
As of Monday, February 9th, Salt Lake City International Airport had gone 327 days without recording an inch of snow, marking the longest such stretch since the winter of 1890-91, according to the National Weather Service.
The meagre snow accumulation in Colorado and Utah has placed the Upper Colorado River Basin at the epicentre of this snow drought, according to Gerlich. A healthy mountain snowpack, which gradually melts as winter transitions into spring, is essential for providing a consistent water flow into creeks and rivers. This sustained release is critical for ensuring adequate water resources later in the year for various needs, including agriculture, urban consumption, and hydropower generation.
However, the current lack of snow, or a premature melt, signifies that less water will be available to replenish vital rivers like the Colorado later in the season. Daniel Swain of the University of California’s Water Resources Institute described this as “a pretty big problem for the Colorado basin.”
Beyond water security, experts warn that this snow drought could also trigger an early wildfire season. Daniel McEvoy, a researcher with the Western Regional Climate Center, explained that snow disappearing earlier than usual leaves the ground exposed to warmer spring and summer temperatures. This accelerated warming dries out soils and vegetation more quickly, creating ideal conditions for wildfires to ignite and spread.
The Role of Extreme Heat in a Snowless Winter
While the lack of precipitation is a factor, scientists overwhelmingly attribute the record-low snowpack primarily to the extreme warmth experienced across the West. They link this persistent heat to climate change, driven by the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. Data from NOAA reveals that since December 1st, over 8,500 daily high-temperature records have been broken or tied across the Western United States.
Swain and other scientists highlight that much of the precipitation that would normally fall as snow and remain in the mountains for extended periods is now falling as rain. Rainwater tends to run off much more quickly, exacerbating water scarcity issues. This phenomenon is a well-documented consequence that scientists have long warned about in the context of climate change.
Although periods of going snowless can occur naturally, the intensity of the warmth this season is exceptionally pronounced and is more readily linked to climate change, according to Russ Schumacher, professor of atmospheric science at Colorado State University and Colorado State Climatologist.
“It was so warm, especially in December, that the snow was only falling at the highest parts of the mountains,” McEvoy observed. “And then we moved into January and it got really dry almost everywhere for the last three to four weeks and stayed warm.”
A Glimmer of Hope, But Optimism Remains Cautious
Meteorologists are anticipating a shift in weather patterns this week, with projections of wetter and cooler conditions across the West, potentially bringing some snowfall. This could mark the peak of the current snow drought. However, temperatures are still expected to remain warmer than average in many areas, and scientists are not overly optimistic that the incoming precipitation will be sufficient to significantly alleviate the deficits.
“I don’t think there’s any way we’re going to go back up to, you know, average or anywhere close to that,” Schumacher stated. “But at least we can chip away at those deficits a little bit if it does get more active.”
