The Western United States is experiencing a severe snow drought this winter, marked by record-hot temperatures and insufficient snowfall. Brad Riesenberg, an owner at Backcountry Snowmobiling in Park City, Utah, reported significant financial losses due to customer cancellations, as snowmobiling requires substantial snowpack at lower elevations. He described this winter as among the worst he has witnessed in over 20 years in the industry.
This snow drought affects much of the mountainous West, with California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains being a notable exception after recent heavy snow from atmospheric river storms. Experts are concerned about both immediate impacts on winter sports businesses and long-term implications.
Continued low snowfall could intensify the West’s prolonged drought, complicate water allocation negotiations for the Colorado River, elevate wildfire risks, and reduce water supplies across a broad area. Russ Schumacher, Colorado’s state climatologist, noted that many SNOTEL monitoring stations in the Colorado Rockies are reporting record to near-record low snow levels, unseen since the 1980-81 winter. He attributed the lack of cold air and snowstorms to a persistent ridge of high pressure. For instance, Fort Collins, Colorado, experienced a December average temperature equivalent to March.
Jon Meyer, Utah’s assistant state climatologist, linked the current rain events and lack of mountain snow to larger-scale climate shifts that could impact Utah's economic future, including the 2034 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City recorded its second-latest measurable snowfall on December 27 this year. Meyer emphasized that years like this highlight the risks climate change poses to snowpack in Utah and globally.
The most immediate risk from poor snow conditions is the impact on summer water supplies, particularly for the Colorado River and other Western regions, which heavily rely on spring snow runoff. Schumacher highlighted growing water demand in the Colorado River Basin amid progressively hotter and drier conditions.
While a late-season improvement in snowpack is still possible, achieving average conditions by March would necessitate consistent storminess and colder temperatures for several weeks to months, which are not currently forecasted. Schumacher acknowledged the concerns associated with record-low January levels but stated the final outcome for the season is not yet definitive. He warned that another dry year would negatively affect the Colorado River System.
Climatologists in Utah and Arizona are monitoring forecasts for changes in weather patterns. Erinanne Saffell, Arizona’s state climatologist, reported record-hot Decembers in Phoenix and Tucson and unusually warm, dry conditions in Flagstaff. She noted that while the start to the snow season has been poor, January, February, and March still offer opportunities for snow accumulation, referencing a recent trend of higher snowpack in March. Monitoring of the situation is ongoing.