Snow drought raises concerns for producers across the West

In the January 2026 Drought Impacts Summary, published on Feb. 10, the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) reports this winter’s “snow drought” is raising alarms across the West, where lighter than usual snowpack is threatening water supplies, forage production and long-term agricultural sustainability as producers head into the 2026 growing season.

NDMC’s Drought Climate Summary, also published on Feb. 10, notes drought conditions are expected to persist across much of the West, stretching from portions of New Mexico through northern Colorado, southern Wyoming, Utah and parts of the Northwest. 

Additionally, NDMC’s Drought Impact Reporter highlights 108 drought-related impacts nationwide in January alone, affecting dozens of states, thousands of counties and more than 140 cities. 

Drought persists across the High Plains

According to NDMC, drought conditions across the High Plains were a mixed bag throughout the month of January, with portions of Wyoming and western Nebraska seeing scattered improvements due to isolated precipitation events, while other areas experienced one- and two-category degradations.

Parts of Wyoming saw both minor improvements and worsening conditions depending on location. 

Precipitation deficits were especially evident in north-central and eastern portions of Wyoming, northern Idaho, Central Montana and Oregon, where January moisture was reported far below normal. 

NDMC notes temperatures across the western U.S. were mostly warmer than usual as well, with some areas measuring three to six degrees Fahrenheit above normal. 

“The central and northern Rocky Mountains were especially warm,” the report states. “Monthly average temperatures in parts of Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana soared six to 12 degrees above normal.”

Snowpack lags across the West

NDMC explains winter snowpack acts as a natural reservoir, storing moisture until spring and summer when melting snow replenishes reservoirs, aquifers and streams, which many communities rely on for irrigation purposes, stock water and/or municipal use.

This winter, however, warmer than usual temperatures have caused more precipitation to fall as rain instead of snow, reducing the amount of snow accumulation across critical watersheds.

NDMC reports, as of late January, Colorado’s statewide snowpack averaged 58 percent of normal, marking at least 16 consecutive days at record-low levels for this time of year. 

Utah fared similarly, with snow water equivalent measuring approximately 5.2 inches – about 58 percent of median and among the lowest levels recorded since at least 1981, according to records from the U.S. Department of Agricultureʼs (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service.

“Snow provides about 95 percent of Utah’s water supply, and there were about two months left for snow to accumulate,” the NDMC report reads.

Snowpack levels across Arizona, Idaho and Nevada have also been near or well below normal. 

NDMC says Nevada’s snowpack measured 56 percent of median, while Idaho and Arizona hovered near historic lows.

While faring slightly better than its neighboring states, Wyoming’s snowpack conditions are still below ideal. 

As of late January, statewide snowpack measured approximately 84 percent of normal, and water managers cautioned dry conditions across the Colorado River Basin could require a significant drawdown of Flaming Gorge Reservoir this spring, potentially affecting downstream water availability.

Warm temperatures worsen snow drought

Warmer conditions across the West not only reduced snow accumulation in high-altitude areas, it also accelerated melting at lower elevations.

Instead of slowly building snow reserves through winter, precipitation often ran off immediately as rain, providing only temporary relief to reservoirs without contributing to long-term water storage.

NDMC explains, “Wash-
ington, for instance, re-ceived ample precipitation in December which led to devastating flooding. As of Jan. 6, storage in the six Yakima Basin reservoirs was at 135 percent of typical levels for that date, according to the Washington Department of Ecology.”

“Yakima reservoirs were at a combined 63 percent of capacity, up from 39 percent on Dec. 11,” the agency adds. “Rain helped refill reservoirs, but it is still no substitute for snow.”

This pattern has ex-tended across much of the West, where intermittent storms provided moisture but failed to build sufficient snowpack to ensure reliable runoff later in the year.

Ag industry feels significant impacts

Widespread drought conditions continue to influence livestock producers’ management decisions, especially in the cattle industry. 

According to USDA, the total inventory of U.S. cattle and calves was reported at 86.2 million head as of Jan. 1, down slightly from 86.5 million the year prior.

The nation’s beef cow herd declined by 185,000 head, totaling 27.6 million. 

NDMC notes many ranchers have reduced herd sizes since ongoing drought conditions have limited forage production and increased feed costs.

Ag producers across the state of Texas are also feeling the burn. 

According to NDMC, drought conditions expanded and intensified across the Lone Star State in January, with unseasonably warm temperatures and little precipitation since mid-summer.

“Impacts ranged from ungerminated wheat fields and declining rangeland conditions to low water levels in stock ponds,” the report reads. “Cool-season forages were stunted in the Texas High Plains, as well as the North, Central and West Texas Regions, as soil moisture continued to decrease. Additionally, some late-planted wheat in the High Plains did not fully germinate.”

Further, the agency mentions Texas ranchers uncharacteristically supplemented livestock with additional feed since winter grazing conditions were in poorer condition than usual this time of year.

“Soil moisture was depleted, and the approach of planting season increased concerns for farmers aiming to plant crops,” the report continues.

In the Midwest, extreme cold temperatures caused parts of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to freeze, exacerbating already low water levels and decreasing draft capacity, which hindered transportation of major commodities like grains.

Impacts extend beyond agriculture

Effects of the snow drought are also evident beyond agriculture.

According to NDMC, ski resorts across the West reported reduced terrain availability, with many scaling back to operate limited lifts or relying heavily on artificial snow. Lower-elevation resorts struggled to maintain coverage, while higher-elevation locations fared a little better.

“Visitation to Vail Resort’s North American ski areas in Colorado were down 20 percent compared to the previous season through mid-January, according to the company in an investor update,” NDMC writes. “Vail Resort’s decline in lift ticket revenue, including applicable season pass revenue, was down just 1.8 percent. The company also reported a 14.9 percent drop in school revenue. Dining revenue was off 15.9 percent. The company’s chief executive officer blamed the slowdown on the lack of snow in the West, which has limited terrain at some ski resorts.”

Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.