Science Friday What A Snow Drought In The West Means For The Rest Of 2026
Feb 19, 2026
Brad Udall, a Colorado State water and climate scientist, and David Condos, a Southern Utah reporter covering local water impacts, discuss a severe snow drought in the West. They talk about vanishing snowpack, how higher temperatures worsen water shortages, strains on the Colorado River and reservoirs, and the political and agricultural tensions around huge cuts in water supply.
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Snowpack Is Utah’s Lifeblood
- Utah relies on snowpack for about 95% of its municipal water supply, making low snow a visible, constant crisis.
- David Condos says bare mountains and intermittent snow make the shortage a daily conversation and economic threat.
Warming, Not Just Less Snow
- Western low snow is driven both by reduced precipitation and a strong temperature signal tied to human-caused warming.
- Brad Udall notes winters are several degrees Fahrenheit warmer, which reduces snow and worsens hydrology.
Aridification Replaces ‘Drought’
- Scientists prefer the term 'aridification' to capture long-term warming and drying trends, not just temporary droughts.
- Udall links aridification to shorter winters, longer summers, more evaporation, and less snow overall.