Across much of the Western United States in 2026, winter seemed to vanish altogether. Ski resorts resorted to artificial snow, but many closed early, leaving skiers and water managers alike wondering what next.

In Boise, Idaho, temperatures soared into the mid-80s Fahrenheit while Phoenix saw a scorching 105°F heat wave, part of this unusual climate phenomenon.

Water managers who rely on mountain snowpacks for summer supplies found themselves in unprecedented territory. Only five river basins out of 70 had snowwater equivalent levels at or above the median, while most were significantly below average.

The Colorado, Columbia and Missouri rivers, crucial water sources, see many headwaters with less than half their usual snow reserves. This stark situation highlights a worrying trend that could impact not just water supplies but also ecosystems across the region.

So how did we get here? Despite overall precipitation levels, higher temperatures meant much of what would have been snow fell as rain instead, leading to this historic and concerning drought.