… Utah is in a snow drought and it’s not alone: Much of the vast, mountainous West is missing its lifeblood — fueled by record-hot temperatures so far this winter. California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains, only recently pasted with heavy snow from atmospheric river storms, are the exception. And while this is an immediate problem for businesses and active outdoors fans, experts are also worried about bigger implications in the near future. If the trend continues, it could deepen the West’s long drought, aggravating already contentious negotiations about allocating water along the Colorado River.

Other snow drought news around the West:

• KLAS (Las Vegas, Nev.): Forces aligning against healthy snowpack and a ‘normal’ water supply for Colorado River states
• Aspen Public Radio (Colo.): Abnormally warm winter leaves snowpack below average, with low spring runoff in the forecast
• The Salt Lake Tribune (Salt Lake City, Utah): Rocky Mountain snowpack is off to a ‘very poor’ start. Here’s what it means for the Colorado River and Lake Powell.
• The Orange County Register (Irvine, Calif.): Mountain towns eagerly await snow as recent rains put damper on busy season
• National Integrated Drought Information System: News release: Record warmth, rain instead of snow intensifies snow drought across the West