Western US faces severe drought, wildfire and water shortages

Snowpack across the Rocky Mountains, Cascades and Sierra Nevada is at less than 50% of the seasonal median, leaving the western United States with a deep water deficit. The reduced meltwater threatens river flows that supply drinking water, irrigation for farms, salmon habitats and hydroelectric power.

State officials warn that the shortfall will intensify the upcoming wildfire season. “This has been an extremely poor year,” said Sharon Megdal, director of the University of Arizona’s Water Resources Research Center. Wildland fire meteorologist Matthew Dehr noted that fire‑risk maps already show above‑normal danger for June and July. The drought follows a record‑breaking March heat wave that further depleted snow, and officials are preparing for possible water‑allocation cuts and faster‑moving fires in forested areas.