Cortado Soprano

Utah officials have declared a statewide emergency following one of the worst snow seasons on record. This winter was so poor that officials dubbed it a “no-pack” season, with mountain snowpack ending near all-time lows. Snowpack serves as the West’s natural frozen reservoir. Each spring and summer, melting snow slowly releases water into rivers, reservoirs, farms, cities, and ecosystems. This year, that critical system largely collapsed. Since April 1, much of Utah has seen only 50–75% of normal precipitation. More than 60% of the state is now in extreme drought. The impacts are already hitting hard. Farmers face sharply reduced water allocations, Salt Lake City has urged residents to cut outdoor water use by 20%, and major reservoirs like Lake Powell sit at critically low levels, threatening hydroelectric power and putting further strain on the entire Colorado River system. Scientists warn this is part of a broader, long-term shift across the American West. Climate change is driving warmer temperatures that cause snow to melt earlier, increase evaporation, and turn more winter precipitation into rain instead of snow. Rain runs off quickly, making it far harder to store water for the dry summer months ahead. The drought has also dramatically raised wildfire risk, as dry vegetation and low soil moisture turn landscapes into tinder. While summer thunderstorms may bring temporary relief, officials say they are unlikely to solve the deepening water deficit. This crisis underscores just how dependent the Western United States remains on mountain snow, and how fragile that system becomes when winters stop delivering as they once did.