February 8, 2026 - NOAA has released the following key points as a dry, warm January 2026 leaves the west with the worst snowpack in decades.

• Snow cover across the Western U.S. on February 1 was 139,322 square miles—the lowest February 1 snow cover in the MODIS satellite record (since 2001).
  
  
• As of February 1, Oregon, Colorado, and Utah have reported record low statewide snowpack. (Widespread SNOTEL records go back to the early 1980s). 
  • Critical water supply basins like the Deschutes, Humboldt, Yakima, Rio Grande, and Upper Colorado are experiencing severe snow drought. 
    
    
• A January dry spell resulted in most states receiving 50% or less of normal precipitation. Combined with above-normal temperatures and sunny days, this resulted in little snow accumulation and some snowmelt across the West. Historically, January is a significant snow accumulation month for much of the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies.  
  
  
• Warm temperatures have resulted in an elevational gradient to the snowpack. Snow is present at higher elevations but has melted or is not present at lower elevations. A lack of snow cover may lead to early drying of the landscape, which could result in a longer fire season or reduce runoff efficiency as snow melts. 
  
  
• A pattern shift is expected across the West with wetter-than-normal conditions favored over the next two weeks. However, warmer-than-normal temperatures are still favored for large parts of the West, which could further inhibit snowpack development. 
  
  
• Snowpack is of critical economic and ecological importance to Western communities. Consequential economic impacts have already occurred, especially for the recreation sector and the communities that rely on it. Water supply concerns continue to increase, impacting key economic sectors like agriculture, recreation, and energy. 
  
  
• Time is running short on reaching average peak median snow water equivalent (SWE), which occurs in March and April in most basins in the West. Snowfall deficits will be difficult to make up, but abundant snowfall over the next couple months could reduce impacts.
  
  
  
  Source: NOAA