The 2026 western U.S. snowpack is even worse than you think.
"… There have been many great posts and articles about the 2026 snow drought ravaging the western United States over the last few months, and there's been a lot of attention on the NRCS SNOTEL network, where a majority of stations have recorded new records for lowest snow water equivalent (SWE) throughout the 2026 winter. The automated SNOTEL network goes back to ~1980, with a majority of stations coming online between 1980 and 1990, so while these records are meaningful, they only represent ~35 to 45 years.
The NRCS Snow Survey Program still oversees the manual Snow Course network, which predates SNOTEL. Snow Courses are fixed locations in the mountains where surveyors measure the SWE and snow depth of the snowpack on a recurring basis. Snow Course records extend much farther back in time than SNOTEL, and in some cases, exceed 100 years. In years like 2026, the Snow Course records are useful for us to better contextualize the historical relevance of potential record-setting events.
As of this morning, the NRCS & CA DWR have received Snow Course measurements from 810 courses for their April 1st survey. Of the 810 measurements, 503 have a new record low SWE and 171 more are the 2nd lowest on record. Of the 503 Snow Courses with new record lows, 253 of those sites have been measured for 70 years or more, and 141 have been measured for 85 years or more. The April 1 snowpack conditions carry added importance because it's generally when the western U.S. snowpack reaches its seasonal maximum, which is, by far, the most critical component of spring and summer streamflow and water supply for the western U.S.
As a whole, the April 1, 2026, western U.S. snowpack is very likely the lowest in recorded history..."
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/daniel-tappa-8a2a06a3_the-2026-western-us-snowpack-is-even-worse-share-7446194071208947712-I7HO
#snowpack #water #waterresources #drought #USWest #WaterManagement #NRCS #snotel #snow #snowdrought #2026
In Washington state, the snowpack is very low in all basins except for northeast corner. However, our saving grace is that we had abundant precipitation this winter… it was just in the form of rain. The reservoirs are incredibly full at this point, and were uncommonly like this in late February. The critical Yakima basin, is at capacity for all but one reservoir. I love these teacup diagrams: (https://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/yakima/yaktea.html).