Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Site Section
Data & Maps

Snow Drought

Snowpack typically acts as a natural reservoir, providing water throughout the drier summer months. Lack of snowpack storage, or a shift in timing of snowmelt from that reservoir, can be a challenge for drought planning. Snow drought is a period of abnormally little snowpack for the time of year. Recent research shows that the western U.S. has emerged as a global snow drought “hotspot,” where snow droughts became more prevalent, intensified, and lengthened in the second half of the period 1980 to 2018.

Water Year 2024 Snow Drought Summary

Types of Snow Drought

There are two types of snow drought based on the AMS Glossary of Meteorology:

A ruler buried in snow
Dry snow drought

Below-normal cold-season precipitation

A forest with some partially melted patches of snow
Warm snow drought

A lack of snow accumulation despite near-normal precipitation, caused by warm temperatures and precipitation falling as rain rather than snow or unusually early snowmelt.

Data, Maps, and Tools

Few drought metrics include storage and release of snow water. Several years of low snowpack, especially across the western U.S., have led to studies examining the causes and impacts of reduced snow storage and seeking a new definition for snow drought.

Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) Conditions

SWE Water Year Peak: Percentage of Median
SWE Percent of 2004–2021 Average
90%
800%

Impacts and Related Content

Summer Water Availability

Snow droughts reduce the amount of available water for spring and summer snow melt. This, in turn, reduces or shifts the timing of streamflow and reduces soil moisture, which can have impacts on water storage, irrigation, fisheries, vegetation, municipal water supplies, and wildfire.

Winter Water Management

Warmer winter storms lead to rain instead of snow at higher elevations in mountain regions. This can create challenges for water management and flood mitigation strategies, particularly when dealing with extreme events.

By Sector | Recreation and Tourism

Many local economies and industries rely on snowpack and river flows from snowmelt to support their outdoor industries, such as skiing, rafting, and fishing.

Research & Learn | Snow Drought

Find more detailed information about snow drought, including the importance of snowpack and snow drought’s impact on ecosystems, water supply, and local economies.

The Great Western Snow Drought of 2015

The winter of 2015 brought unusually warm temperatures to the western United States and serves as a classic example of how warm temperatures can cause snow drought. By April 1, not a single basin in the West was above 86% of median snow water equivalent—and most basins in Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona were below 40%.

The Rocky Mountains covered in snow and trees

Snow Drought Research and Resources