Record Low Snow in the West Will Mean Less Water, More Fire, and Political Chaos

Western US states are experiencing record low snowpack levels, threatening the water supply for 40 million people across seven states reliant on the Colorado River Basin. Climate scientist Daniel Swain warns that unless there is a significant late-season snowstorm, the current deficit—which is about half the normal snowpack for mid-February—could exacerbate ecological and political crises in the region. Warm winter temperatures have led to precipitation falling as rain rather than snow, reducing snowpack accumulation despite steady or above-average precipitation in some areas. This "snow drought" undermines the natural water storage that snowpack provides, which typically melts in spring to replenish streams and reservoirs. The consequences of low snowpack extend beyond water shortages. Forests dry out more quickly, increasing vulnerability to wildfires, which in turn can further reduce the landscape’s ability to retain snow. The snowpack crisis compounds ongoing challenges in managing the Colorado River, where century-old water-sharing agreements—based on overestimated river flows—are being renegotiated amid