Western Mountains Experience Significant Snow Drought

Warmer temperatures and lack of storms contribute to record low snow levels, with California's snowpack at just a third of normal.

Mountains in the West, including California, are experiencing a significant snow drought with some areas having less than a third of the amount of snow they should have in January.
Warmer temperatures and a lack of moisture-rich storms are driving the low snow conditions.
California's first snow survey of the season showed just a third of the normal snow water equivalent, compared to last year's 186 percent of normal.
Climate change is causing more precipitation to fall as rain in the autumn and spring, shortening the snow season.
Despite the current deficit, there is still time for the West to recover with a change in the weather pattern, but it becomes harder as winter progresses.