‘Snow-eater’ heat waves adding to water woes plaguing the West

A study published in Science Advances identifies 'snow-eater' heat waves, which accelerate snowmelt and contribute to flooding and water shortages in the western U.S. These events have increased in frequency and intensity since the mid-1990s, with recent impacts including reduced inflows to Lake Powell and drought conditions in the Intermountain West. The research links these heat waves to high-pressure systems causing unseasonably warm temperatures and rapid snowpack depletion.