Geosciences professor Lejo Flores addressed the effects of a historic snow drought in an article published on March 25 in The Conversation. Flores described how much of the Western United States experienced a winter without significant snowfall, leading to early closures for many ski resorts and raising concerns among fire officials and water supply managers about the coming summer.
The topic is important because mountain snowpacks serve as natural reservoirs, providing essential water for farms and communities during hot, dry months. Their condition is often used as an indicator for regional water supplies.
Flores said, “Across much of the Western United States, winter 2026 was the year the snow never came. Many ski resorts got by with snowmaking but shut down their winter operations early. Fire officials and water supply managers are worried about summer.”
He added that in Boise, Idaho, temperatures reached into the low 80s Fahrenheit (high-20s Celsius) by mid-March while Phoenix saw temperatures soar to 105 F (40 C). “Ordinarily, water managers and hydrologists like me who study the Western U.S. expect the mountain snowpacks to be at their fullest around April 1,” Flores said. He explained that these snowpacks act as vital sources of liquid water throughout summer months.
According to Flores, “the 2026 water year has been anything but ordinary. In fact, its snow drought has few historical analogs.” Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service showed that only five out of approximately seventy river basins across the region were at or above median levels for this time of year; most were located near Yellowstone in western Wyoming and eastern Idaho.
Flores’ article highlights growing concern over future wildfire risk and water shortages due to reduced snowfall in key areas across the West.
