Time is Running Out as Western U.S. Snowpack Struggles Through Early March - SnowBrains

"Many basins in Oregon are lingering between 25-45% of their median, while much of California sits around 22-58%. The situation in parts of Arizona and New Mexico is shockingly low, with some basins recording just 0-24% of normal levels. Despite the widespread drought, a few bright spots remain. The Tetons and Jackson Hole are performing well with 291 inches this season, and parts of Montana and Wyoming are hovering around 90-100% of normal."

"Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA, noted in a February 2024 water briefing that while the West can recover from a slow start, the window for dramatically improving the snowpack begins to narrow as the calendar moves deeper into March. Brian McClure, a hydrologist with California's snow survey program, echoed this during a March 1, 2024 briefing, emphasizing that snowpack is California's largest natural reservoir and catching up becomes increasingly difficult late in the season."

"Meteorologists point to a stubborn pattern of persistent high pressure in the eastern Pacific, which has repeatedly pushed the storm track north and starved the West Coast of meaningful precipitation. Jeff Anderson, Director of the NOAA National Water Center, stated in a February 2023 briefing that these deficits can severely impact water supply and elevate drought and wildfire risks later in the year."

The Western USA faces severe snowpack deficits heading into late winter 2026. SNOTEL data from March 4 shows large portions of the Sierra Nevada, Cascades, Rocky Mountains, and Southwest well below historical averages. Persistent high pressure in the eastern Pacific has repeatedly diverted storm tracks northward, starving the West Coast of precipitation. Oregon basins range from 25-45% of median, California sits at 22-58%, while Arizona and New Mexico record critically low 0-24% of normal levels. Notable exceptions include the Tetons and Jackson Hole at 291 inches, Montana and Wyoming near 90-100% of normal, and Central Idaho exceeding 100% of average. Climate experts warn the recovery window is rapidly closing as March progresses, with late-season snowpack improvements becoming increasingly difficult. These deficits threaten water supply, elevate drought and wildfire risks, and impact regional water resources.

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