A record‑warm winter followed by a March heat wave erased most of the Mountain West's snowpack, leaving the Colorado River basin with just 22% of normal runoff expected this summer. Scientists say the melt that normally supplies drinking water, irrigation and hydroelectric power has vanished, prompting immediate water‑use cuts in Denver, Salt Lake City and Las Vegas.

Measurements this month showed snow depth in the Sierra Nevada and western Colorado fell to a fraction of historic averages, with some sites reporting less than half of typical levels. Researchers attribute the loss to rain‑instead of snow during the winter and unprecedented March temperatures that melted what little remained. The resulting dry soils have already heightened wildfire danger across Nevada, Utah, Colorado and beyond.

Utilities are urging voluntary conservation, but Denver's water agency is targeting a 20% usage reduction while Lake Powell faces the prospect of its lowest inflows since the 2002 drought. With reservoir storage still near 80% of capacity, officials warn that continued dryness could force stricter restrictions and accelerate calls to modernize water‑capture infrastructure.