The entire state is in a snow drought, with conditions expected to deepen due to record-breaking warm winter temperatures. Colorado’s snowpack is the lowest on record for this time of year, and major river basins are running at about 50 percent to 75 percent of normal. Much of the northwestern part of the state, including Pitkin, Eagle, Grand and Summit counties are in deep drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, which forecasts the dry spell to deepen across the Western Slope in the coming weeks. … Still, the state [of Colorado] is faring better than surrounding states when it comes to winter precipitation. Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico have received only about 20-30 percent of the average snowfall by this time in January. 

Other snowpack news around the West:

• The Washington Post: It’s the middle of winter, but drought covers the U.S. That’s concerning.
• KSNV (Las Vegas, Nev.): Colorado River snowpack decline threatens water levels and costs in Southern Nevada
• Weather West: Blog: “Warm West/Cool East” dipole to develop over North America in late January; mostly dry/warm conditions lead to record-low Western U.S. snowpack
• SnowBrains: Blog: NOAA February 2026 outlook — pattern change could finally bring relief to the snow-starved Western United States