The western US is in a snow drought, raising fears for summer water supplies
CNN••nation
Key Points:
- Winter sports businesses in Utah, such as Backcountry Snowmobiling, are experiencing significant losses due to unusually low snowfall and mild temperatures this season, leading to widespread tour cancellations.
- Much of the mountainous Western U.S. is facing a snow drought driven by record-high temperatures, with snowpack levels near historic lows, raising concerns about water supply, wildfire risks, and long-term climate impacts.
- Colorado and Utah climatologists report that persistent high-pressure ridges have prevented cold air and snowstorms, resulting in record-warm winter months and poor snow conditions that threaten future water availability and economic activities like the 2034 Winter Olympics.
- The low snowpack poses immediate risks to water supplies dependent on spring runoff, especially along the Colorado River Basin,
