The Western US Is in a Snow Drought. What Comes Next Is Even Scarier

The mountains of the western United States are looking remarkably brown this winter. The region is facing one of its worst snow droughts in decades, and while the snowsport industry is already feeling the effects, the impacts this summer could be far worse.

Although much of the region received plenty of precipitation in fall and early winter, most of it fell as rain due to unusually warm temperatures. Then, a lengthy dry spell took hold in January, which certainly didn’t help. The lack of snow isn’t just bad news for skiers and snowboarders—it’s also a major concern for the West’s water supply, which is far more reliant on a healthy snowpack than rainfall.