2026 09 15 Drought 2026

Erin Whorton (NRCS) and David Hoekema (IDWR) and present on Too Warm to Snow: The Drought of 2026. Only surpassed by 1934, Water Year 2026 is the second warmest on record in Idaho since measurements began in 1895. Warmer than average winter temperatures across the West lead to a widespread snow drought and severe water supply shortages this summer. While most of the West experienced the double whammy of below normal precipitation and warm temperatures, Idaho received near normal precipitation across most of the state. However, this precipitation often fell as rain rather than snow, leading to mid-winter flood events and extreme drought conditions this summer. In this talk, we will review the evolution of the snow drought, how spring conditions changed water supply outcomes and discuss the myriad of drought impacts felt across the state from this unusual winter.