The winter of 2025-2026 has seen record low snowpack throughout the western Unites States, raising concerns about water supplies and increasing the risk of wildfires for the upcoming summer months. On April 1st, 2026, the amount of water stored in the western snowpack was more than 60% lower than the 1991-2020 average.
Atmospheric warming is expected to make snow drought conditions more common as more precipitation falls as rain rather than snow. In fact, there has already been measurable decreases in typical annual snowpack since the 1950s.
For more information about the ongoing western snow drought, see the April 1st, 2026 Climate Matters article prepared by Climate Central. For current snowpack conditions, check out the National Water and Climate Center’s interactive map.