West Coast Mountains of North America at Half of Normal Snowpack in Extreme “Snow Drought”

News Briefing: 4 January 2024

From the Cascades to the Sierra Nevada, mountains along the western U.S. and lower Canadian coast currently have less than half their normal snowpack for this time of the year, raising concerns that the summer will bring major water shortages; with impacts on agriculture, power generation, fisheries and ecosystems. Snow serves as a vital freshwater reservoir for much of the western U.S. and Canada, and scientists are raising concerns that this year’s thin snowpack may not be able to meet water needs this summer. Notably, even the highest point of the Siskiyou Mountains along the Oregon-California boarder – reaching more than 7,500 feet – still had bare spots in mid-December. This widespread snow shortage has created serious economic problems for local communities, extending from the winter sports industry to larger hydropower, electricity, and irrigation systems. Vacant ski resorts dotting mountain slopes this holiday season provided one of the most visible signs of this “snow drought” and recent snow decline. With over 40 million people relying on meltwater resources supplied through the Colorado River alone, climate warming poses an ever-increasing risk to western economies and human well-being.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/28/us/west-coast-snowpack-ski-warming.html