NASA Observes Snow Drought in the American West Despite Wet Winter
• NASA has reported a significant snow drought in the American West during the winter of 2026, despite average or above-average precipitation in many areas during the fall and early winter. Warm conditions caused more precipitation to fall as rain rather than snow, leading to reduced snowpack. On 15 January 2026, satellite data revealed that snow covered only 142,700 square miles, the smallest area recorded for that date since
• A heatwave in late March further accelerated snowmelt, with the Upper Colorado River Basin's snowpack peaking four weeks earlier than usual. This has contributed to record-low water levels in reservoirs like Lake Powell and Lake Mead.
Impact & Risks
The snow drought has exacerbated water shortages in the American West, particularly in the Colorado River Basin, which has already faced over two decades of drought. Reduced snowpack means less water is stored for spring and summer, impacting water availability for agriculture, drinking water, and hydroelectric power. Lake Powell's inflow in July was just 9% of the average, and both Lake Powell and Lake Mead reached record-low levels in August. These conditions pose significant risks to water security and ecosystem health in the region.
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