Your textbook said: "Winter precipitation falls as snow. In spring, snowmelt fills rivers and reservoirs." Western U.S. snowpack on April 1, 2026: 65% below normal. Lowest on record.
Your textbook said: "Drought occurs when a region receives less precipitation than normal." Washington State received 104% of normal precipitation this winter. On April 8, the governor declared statewide emergency drought.
Your textbook said: "Snowpack stores water for the dry summer months." Colorado's South Platte Basin: 4% of normal snowpack. The Arkansas River may run dry by July.