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wwanews.bsky.social
Western Water Assessment
@wwanews.bsky.social
230 followers 250 following 56 posts
WWA is an applied research program that addresses societal vulnerabilities related to weather and water resources.
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wwanews.bsky.social
At the beginning of September, #streamflow was below average for most regional rivers, especially in Colorado and Utah. On September 9, record-low daily streamflow was recorded at 30 or more sites in Colorado, 10 sites in Utah, and two in Wyoming.
Below normal streamflow percentiles in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming on September 9, 2026.
September 22, 2026 at 10:37 PM
wwanews.bsky.social
It was the warmest August on record for Colorado, the second warmest on record for Utah, and the seventh warmest on record for Wyoming. It was also the warmest meteorological summer (June–August) on record for Colorado and Utah, and the sixth warmest on record for Wyoming.
Departure from normal temperature in the western U.S. in August 2026.
September 15, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Reposted by Western Water Assessment
cires.colorado.edu
For our next #HumansOfCIRES, meet Nels Bjarke, a hydrologist with @wwanews.bsky.social. His work focuses on supporting communities, municipalities, and resource managers to build resilience to natural hazards — and he enjoys film photography. @colorado.edu
cires.colorado.edu/news/humans-...
Humans of CIRES: Nels Bjarke
Western Water Assessment hydrologist enjoys film photography
cires.colorado.edu
September 9, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Reposted by Western Water Assessment
cires.colorado.edu
Happy #PhotoFriday!

In August 2024, CIRES' Nels Bjarke snapped this image of a misty summer morning on the Wonderland Trail in Washington.

@wwanews.bsky.social
Sunlight breaks through a misty forested landscape along a dirt path
August 21, 2026 at 4:18 PM
Reposted by Western Water Assessment
cires.colorado.edu
New in @grist.org, featuring insight from Western Water Assessment PI Noah Molotch — heat waves that melt snowpack are happening earlier and becoming more widespread in the western U.S. @wwanews.bsky.social @colorado.edu @instaar.bsky.social
grist.org/science/new-...
Scientists define a new category of heat wave: ‘Snow eaters’
Unseasonably warm weather that rapidly melts snowpack is becoming more widespread in the U.S. West and happening earlier in the year.
grist.org
August 13, 2026 at 6:00 PM
wwanews.bsky.social
At the end of July, #streamflow was below average for most regional rivers. On July 29, record-low daily streamflow was recorded at 29 sites in Colorado, 10 sites in Utah, and four in Wyoming, including the Arkansas, Dolores, Eagle, Roaring Fork, South Platte, Uncompahgre, and Yampa Rivers.
Streamflow conditions in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming as of July 29, 2026.
August 13, 2026 at 6:04 PM
wwanews.bsky.social
July #temperatures were above average (+2-4ºF) for the entire region, with much above average temperatures (+4-8ºF) across much of Wyoming, northern Colorado, and northeastern Utah.

Learn more: wwa.colorado.edu/resources/in... @cires.colorado.edu
Departure from normal temperature across the western US in July 2026.
August 12, 2026 at 7:00 PM
wwanews.bsky.social
#ElNiño is favored to persist through early spring 2027, with an 81% chance of a very strong El Niño from October-December 2026.

Learn more: wwa.colorado.edu/resources/in... @cires.colorado.edu
ENSO strength probabilities 7.2026
July 13, 2026 at 5:42 PM
wwanews.bsky.social
Pacific Ocean temperatures transitioned to #ElNiño conditions in June. Observed sea surface temperature anomalies were approximately +1.2 °C above average in the Niño 3.4 region, indicating a moderate El Niño. El Niño is favored to persist through winter 2026-27.

wwa.colorado.edu/resources/in...
Relative sea surface temperature anomalies over last 12 months Mid-June 2026 ENSO forecasts
July 10, 2026 at 5:22 PM
Reposted by Western Water Assessment
cires.colorado.edu
Track current fires and smoke with @wwanews.bsky.social's new Intermountain West Current Wildfires and Smoke Forecast Map!
wwa.colorado.edu/current-wild...
Intermountain West Current Wildfires and Smoke Forecast Map | Western Water Assessment
The Intermountain West Current Wildfires and Smoke Forecast Map provides current wildfire location and areal extent alongside the current NOAA National Weather Service Experimental Surface Smoke…
wwa.colorado.edu
July 9, 2026 at 5:00 PM
wwanews.bsky.social
In WWA's recent webinar, WWA research scientists Seth Arens and Nels Bjarke provide an update on the 2025-2026 Intermountain West snow drought, followed by an overview of the Western Drought Perspective Tool and the research supporting it.

Watch here: wwa.colorado.edu/outreach/eve... #snowdrought
Very low snowpack near Chasm Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park in mid-February 2026. Photo credit: Nels Bjarke
June 18, 2026 at 8:07 PM
wwanews.bsky.social
June 1 regional seasonal #streamflow volume forecasts were less than 50% of average for all river basins except the Wind (93%), Shoshone (87%), Yellowstone (80%), Snake (73%), and Bighorn (61%) River Basins.

Learn more: wwa.colorado.edu/resources/in... @cires.colorado.edu
NRCS June 1 Streamflow Forecast CBRFC June 1 Streamflow Forecast
June 10, 2026 at 6:36 PM
Reposted by Western Water Assessment
cires.colorado.edu
“I think Front Range cities will be asked, whether nicely or not, to reduce their Colorado River diversions,” said Jeff Lukas, a water consultant and former @wwanews.bsky.social and CIRES scientist.
sentinelcolorado.com/metro/colora...
Colorado River's dire state demands action from urban water users, experts say — few are - Sentinel Colorado
Denver Water and Aurora Water have imposed stage-one drought watering restrictions, but others have not.
sentinelcolorado.com
June 2, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Reposted by Western Water Assessment
cires.colorado.edu
NEW — @wwanews.bsky.social's report on the 2025-2026 Extreme Snow Drought in the Intermountain West provides information about likely causes of the snow drought, early impacts from record low regional snow-water equivalent, and more!
wwa.colorado.edu/resources/ha...
Screenshot of report cover. Text: Western Water Assessment. 2025-2026 Extreme snow drought in the Intermountain West. Rapid assessment - May 14, 2026. Logos for Western Water Assessment, CIRES, CU Boulder, University of Utah, NOAA. Background image shows rocky, alpine environment with little snow.
May 21, 2026 at 6:01 PM
wwanews.bsky.social
WWA's latest rapid assessment is on the 2025-2026 extreme #snowdrought in CO, UT, and WY. The assessment covers the magnitude of extreme low snow-water equivalent (SWE) conditions in early 2026, likely causes of the snow drought, and more.
wwa.colorado.edu/resources/ha... @cires.colorado.edu
2025-2026 Extreme Snow Drought in the Intermountain West rapid assessment cover
May 18, 2026 at 5:49 PM
wwanews.bsky.social
In Colorado, seasonal #streamflow volume forecasts suggest 20-40% of average runoff for all major river basins. In Utah, forecasts suggest 10-40% of average runoff for all major river basins. In Wyoming, forecasts were more variable.

Learn more: wwa.colorado.edu/resources/in... @cires.colorado.edu
May 15, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Reposted by Western Water Assessment
cires.colorado.edu
“Ultimately, it's going to take relatively, perhaps even draconian cuts in water (use)... unless there's some major change in how we think about the system operating,” said Seth Arens, a hydrologist at the @wwanews.bsky.social on Aspen Public Radio.
www.aspenpublicradio.org/environment/...
Severe Colorado River drought leads to water releases from Upper Basin reservoirs and reduced flows from Lake Powell
The Bureau of Reclamation announced plans to release water from Flaming Gorge Reservoir, and to reduce flows out of Glen Canyon Dam on Lake Powell in an attempt to prop up the Colorado River Basin’s…
www.aspenpublicradio.org
April 28, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Reposted by Western Water Assessment
cires.colorado.edu
Ash and sediment from #wildfires can contaminate Colorado's long-term reservoir storage. "Not just for one year or two years, but sometimes for up to eight years," said Ben Livneh, CIRES fellow and @wwanews.bsky.social director, on Denver7 News.
www.denver7.com/news/environ...
Colorado wildfires threaten to devastate the state's long-term water supply and reservoir storage
Aurora Water warns that leftover ash and sediment from wildfires can contaminate reservoirs and reduce storage capacity - even years after the flames are out.
www.denver7.com
April 27, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Reposted by Western Water Assessment
colorado.edu
Winter never came to Colorado. Ben Linveh, @cuengineering.bsky.social associate professor and director of @wwanews.bsky.social at @cires.colorado.edu explains the "perfect storm" overlap of climate change and natural climate swings. Learn how you can help our water supply ↓
https://bit.ly/4dIFa4P
Winter never came to Colorado. What does it mean for water supplies?
With snowpack at 40% of normal, a CU Boulder hydrologist explains why this year’s snow drought stands out and what it could mean for the Colorado River Basin.
bit.ly
April 15, 2026 at 10:17 PM
Reposted by Western Water Assessment
cires.colorado.edu
“The notion that a wet April, May, June, might save us is quickly leaving the building,” said Nels Bjarke, a research scientist with @wwanews.bsky.social and CIRES.
www.kjzz.org/science/2026...
'Dismal,' 'depressing' and 'seriously dry': Low snow threatens Colorado River water supply
Arizona's water supply could face major cutbacks on the heels of an exceptionally hot, dry winter in the Rocky Mountains.
www.kjzz.org
April 13, 2026 at 4:02 PM
wwanews.bsky.social
The #heatwave during March 2026 was unprecedented in the western U.S. temperature records since 1895. March 2026 average temperatures shattered records in Colorado (by 4.3ºF), Utah (by 5.5ºF), and Wyoming (by 2ºF).

Learn more: wwa.colorado.edu/resources/in... @cires.colorado.edu
April 10, 2026 at 8:21 PM
Reposted by Western Water Assessment
cires.colorado.edu
“It’s going to be a seriously dry summer ahead" — Nels Bjarke, a research scientist with @wwanews.bsky.social and CIRES.
www.nytimes.com/2026/04/08/c...
Heat Wipes Out Western Snowpack, Raising Fears of Drought, Wildfire
A record-mild winter and blistering spring heat will mean higher risks of water shortages and wildfires in the months ahead.
www.nytimes.com
April 9, 2026 at 3:30 PM
wwanews.bsky.social
Winter never came to Colorado. What does it mean for water supplies?

WWA Director Ben Livneh speaks about how warm and dry this winter was, the cause of this snow drought, and more.

www.colorado.edu/today/2026/0... #snowdrought @cires.colorado.edu
Winter never came to Colorado. What does it mean for water supplies?
With snowpack at 40% of normal, a CU Boulder hydrologist explains why this year’s snow drought stands out and what it could mean for the Colorado River Basin.
www.colorado.edu
April 6, 2026 at 10:42 PM
wwanews.bsky.social
Colorado and Wyoming experienced the warmest February on record, and Utah experienced the third warmest February on record. All three states experienced the warmest meteorological winter (December-February) on record.

Learn more: wwa.colorado.edu/resources/in... @cires.colorado.edu #temp #wx
March 13, 2026 at 8:31 PM
Reposted by Western Water Assessment
cires.colorado.edu
KUNR interviewed @wwanews.bsky.social's Seth Arens about Western Water Assessments 2025 Hazards Summary.

“It ended up being a very low year for Colorado River stream flow. It was somewhere around 50% of average during 2025."
www.kunr.org/local-storie...
2025 brought record drought, wildfires and windstorms to the Mountain West, report finds
A new report finds 2025 brought widespread drought, massive wildfires and destructive windstorms across several Mountain West states — and underscores how closely connected those disasters have…
www.kunr.org
February 26, 2026 at 8:30 PM