The western U.S. is experiencing a late-season snow drought, according to an update Wednesday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Integrated Drought Information System. The diminished snowpack could result in water supply issues and increased wildfire risk in the coming months, the authors wrote. Above-normal temperatures and a lack of precipitation in April and early May caused depletions even in basins where snow had piled up in prior months. … “While the rate of the snowmelt has not had a major impact on forecasted April through July seasonal runoff, below average spring precipitation has lowered runoff projections slightly,” said Andy Reising, manager of the California Department of Water Resources’ snow surveys and water supply forecasting unit.

Other snowmelt and drought news around the West:

• Bloomberg: Record pace of snowmelt in US West threatens another drought​
• The Hill: Rapid snowmelt jeopardizing summer water supply across the US West
• Summit Daily (Colo.): Colorado’s snowpack is melting faster than normal almost everywhere except near Summit County
• KSL (Salt Lake City, Utah): Why Utah’s fire season this year could be ‘busier’ despite snowpack, forecast
• KSNV (Las Vegas, Nev.): Lake Mead, Powell water levels to hit near-record lows amid ongoing drought