snowpack

Scientists have a new name for a weather pattern reshaping how the West gets its water: so-called “snow-eater” heat waves.

A new study found that human-caused warming increased the chances of snow conditions this severe.

High temperatures and a poor snowpack led to a lackluster winter for nearby ski resorts. But according to experts and trail users, those conditions could have consequences for summer sports, too.

Warmer than usual weather in March, combined with drought, has made it more likely the state will see large fires this summer.

The monthly National Interagency Fire Center outlooks are typically staid documents, providing just-the-facts analysis. But the latest is superlative-laden as it describes record-low snowpacks, record-early snow melt and record-high temperatures.

Arizona's water supply could face major cutbacks on the heels of an exceptionally hot, dry winter in the Rocky Mountains.

Cody Moser with the federal Colorado Basin River Forecast Center said in a monthly briefing Tuesday that just 1.4 million acre feet of Colorado River water is expected to reach Lake Powell through July. That's less than a quarter of what's considered normal.

State and federal land managers have implemented fire restrictions across the state after a mild winter and record breaking March temperatures.

Estevan López, New Mexico's water negotiator, said talks resumed March 2, and the upper and lower basin states are using a short-term pitch from Nevada as a starting point.

The majority of the state is either abnormally dry, or in moderate or severe drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.