Winter’s alarmingly low snowpack offers a glimpse of the changing rhythm of water in the western US

Streamflows the West relies on for drinking water and farms used to follow a fairly predictable arc as winter snow melted. Rising temperatures are changing that.

By: Imtiaz Rangwala, University of Colorado Boulder, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: April 1, 2026

Words: 1,138

Last Updated: 4 months ago

Body Text Preview

By Imtiaz Rangwala, University of Colorado Boulder

Winter is more than just a season in the western U.S. – it is a savings account to get farms and homes through the long, dry summer ahead. As the snowpack that accumulates in the mountains through winter slowly melts in late spring and summer, it feeds into rivers and reservoirs that keep communities and ecosystems functioning.

The April 1 snowpack measurement has long been the single most …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

FAQ

Email Us