https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates/snow-drought-current-conditions-and-impacts-west-2026-01-08
NIDIS and its partners release these snow drought updates for the western U.S. every 4 weeks from December through June.
snow droughtcurrent conditionsimpactswestjanuary
https://www.discovermagazine.com/lake-mead-water-levels-drop-again-as-snow-drought-takes-over-western-u-s-47114
Feb 13, 2025 - Learn more about the snow drought impacting the western U.S. and what that means for vital water sources.
lake meadwater levelssnow droughtdroptakes
https://www.accuweather.com/en/climate/western-us-faces-worsening-snow-drought-with-california-being-the-rare-exception/1853402
While a drought-free start for California is a win, AccuWeather’s long-range meteorologists warn it’s the ongoing snow drought that remains a...
snow droughtwesternusfacescalifornia
https://www.drought.gov/what-is-drought/snow-drought
The impacts of snow drought are widespread, affecting ecosystems, reservoir levels and operations, water resource management, tourism, and winter recreation.
snow droughtgov
https://theconversation.com/the-western-us-is-in-a-snow-drought-and-storms-have-been-making-it-worse-272549
A major atmospheric river brought record precipitation to the Pacific Northwest, yet the snow and water supply still suffered. It’s a growing problem.
snow droughtwesternusstorms
https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/02/19/snow-drought-helped-set-the-stage-for-deadly-california-avalanche-leading-to-unstable-conditions/
Feb 19, 2026 - By TAMMY WEBBER A weekslong “snow drought” in Northern California’s Sierra Nevada helped set the stage for Tuesday’s deadly avalanche, after several feet of...
snow droughthelpedsetstagedeadly
https://apnews.com/article/avalanche-lake-tahoe-sierra-nevada-california-skiers-f8afce1e77b4174189ced70c22374014
Feb 19, 2026 - Experts say a weekslong “snow drought” in Norther California's Sierra Nevada helped set the stage for Tuesday's deadly avalanche, after several feet of new...
snow droughtsetstagecaliforniaavalanche
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/09/climate/snow-drought-west-water-colorado-river
Jan 9, 2026 - Much of the vast, mountainous West is in a snow drought — dry as a bone and unseasonably warm. If the trend continues, it could deepen the region’s long...
snow droughtwesternusraisingfears
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2026/01/16/snow-drought/4151768603778/
California is the only state in the United States starting 2026 without drought or abnormally dry conditions.
snow droughtwesternfacescaliforniaexception
https://www.usu.edu/today/story/deciphering-the-numbers-for-utahs-record-breaking-snow-drought-winter
Jon Meyer explains what the current snow numbers mean and which ones to watch as spring runoff approaches.
snow droughtnumbersutahrecordbreaking
https://www.energy.gov/science/articles/when-summer-drought-begins-winter-investigating-snow-drought
Researchers supported by the DOE Office of Science are working to understand snow drought and how it affects water supplied by mountainous areas.
summerdroughtbeginswinterinvestigating