Anglers in the Western US who’ve been fishing in balmy temperatures and wondering where the snow is aren’t going crazy. This is officially the slowest start to the snow collection season in at least 25 years, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS).
Their data, which tracks snow-water equivalent levels and total snow cover throughout the West, puts numbers next to what many anglers are experiencing: a warm, dry winter. NIDIS reported that snow cover across the West was only at 90,646 square miles, which is about one-third of the typical average for this time of year.
Snow-water equivalent data also paints a rough picture.
The beleaguered Colorado River Basin isn’t faring well, off the heels of a summer that saw Lakes Powell and Mead reach historic lows. Soils are also dry after a long, hot summer, which means the ground will absorb more runoff next spring than normal, contributing to less water in reservoirs and streams.
A slow start doesn’t necessarily spell permanent problems, though. Snow collection season typically runs through May, and late winter and early-spring storms can dump heavy, wet snow right at the start of runoff season.
As of right now, though, we could be looking at another summer of low flows, warm rivers, and shortened fishing seasons if winter continues to hold off its approach.