The western US is in a snow drought, and storms have been making it worse

A major atmospheric river brought record precipitation to the Pacific Northwest, yet the snow and water supply still suffered. It’s a growing problem.

By: Alejandro N. Flores, Boise State University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: January 8, 2026

Words: 855

Last Updated: 1 day, 7 hours ago

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By Alejandro N. Flores, Boise State University

Much of the western U.S. has started 2026 in the midst of a snow drought. That might sound surprising, given the record precipitation from atmospheric rivers hitting the region in recent weeks, but those storms were actually part of the problem.

To understand this year’s snow drought – and why conditions like this are a growing concern for western water supplies – let’s look at what a …

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