
environment-energy12.265 min read
Historic Snow Drought Tests the West's Water, Power and Fire Season
16 days ago•Source: The Conversation
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The 2026 Western snow drought left most basins well below the 1991–2020 median snow water equivalent as unusually warm temperatures turned precipitation into rain, threatening spring runoff, water allocations, and hydroelectric power (notably Lake Powell). The drought also heightens wildfire risk and raises questions about subsurface water stores and future management across the Colorado, Columbia, and Missouri basins in a warming climate.
The Conversation•2 months ago