Before and after satellite images show how little snow is left in the western US
CNN • • nation
Key Points:
- A record warm March has caused a significant melt of the already low snowpack across the western US, with satellite imagery showing clear impacts and raising concerns for the upcoming summer season.
- Snowpack levels, especially in the Colorado River Basin and California's Sierra Nevada, have dropped to record lows and peaked about a month earlier than usual due to an unprecedented heat wave and dry winter conditions.
- The diminished snowpack threatens water availability for over 35 million people relying on the Colorado River, increasing wildfire risks and exacerbating ongoing drought and water scarcity issues in the region.
- Climate scientists attribute the extreme heat and early snowmelt to human-caused global warming, warning that such heat waves and shifting seasonal patterns will likely worsen snowpack trends and water supply challenges in the future.
- The ongoing situation could strain water resources for homes, agriculture, and power generation, intensifying contentious water negotiations among western states dependent on the Colorado River.
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