Mitch Tobin
@mitchtobin.bsky.social
❄️ Snow science, climate change, and Western water | ✍️ Author of snow.news |💧Co-director of waterdesk.org, University of Colorado Boulder | 🏔️ Multimedia journalist based in Durango
NASA: Western U.S. snow cover is tracking at record-low levels for January, based on satellite observations dating back to 2001.
science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-...
science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-...
January 29, 2026 at 5:22 PM
NASA: Western U.S. snow cover is tracking at record-low levels for January, based on satellite observations dating back to 2001.
science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-...
science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-...
The Winter Storm Severity Index for the next 3 days shows the huge footprint of this dangerous weather system.
WSSI highlights areas where travel and daily life may be disrupted by snow, ice, and wind.
www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/wwd/wssi/wss...
WSSI highlights areas where travel and daily life may be disrupted by snow, ice, and wind.
www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/wwd/wssi/wss...
January 23, 2026 at 5:18 PM
The Winter Storm Severity Index for the next 3 days shows the huge footprint of this dangerous weather system.
WSSI highlights areas where travel and daily life may be disrupted by snow, ice, and wind.
www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/wwd/wssi/wss...
WSSI highlights areas where travel and daily life may be disrupted by snow, ice, and wind.
www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/wwd/wssi/wss...
Colorado needs this incoming storm in the worst way.
Snowmelt from Colorado supplies water to 19 other states and Mexico, but statewide snowpack is at a record low — just 56% of the median for this date.
nwcc-apps.sc.egov.usda.gov/basin-plots/...
Snowmelt from Colorado supplies water to 19 other states and Mexico, but statewide snowpack is at a record low — just 56% of the median for this date.
nwcc-apps.sc.egov.usda.gov/basin-plots/...
January 22, 2026 at 8:49 PM
Colorado needs this incoming storm in the worst way.
Snowmelt from Colorado supplies water to 19 other states and Mexico, but statewide snowpack is at a record low — just 56% of the median for this date.
nwcc-apps.sc.egov.usda.gov/basin-plots/...
Snowmelt from Colorado supplies water to 19 other states and Mexico, but statewide snowpack is at a record low — just 56% of the median for this date.
nwcc-apps.sc.egov.usda.gov/basin-plots/...
In this January 21 map of snow water equivalent, basins in red are below 50% of the 1991–2020 median; orange indicates 50–69% of normal.
www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-ini...
www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-ini...
January 22, 2026 at 8:49 PM
In this January 21 map of snow water equivalent, basins in red are below 50% of the 1991–2020 median; orange indicates 50–69% of normal.
www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-ini...
www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-ini...
Northern lights and the Milky Way near Durango tonight.
January 20, 2026 at 4:20 AM
Northern lights and the Milky Way near Durango tonight.
🌡️ December brought record-breaking average temperatures to 9 Western states, and Idaho had its second-warmest December on record (dating back to 1895).
www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/defaul...
www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/defaul...
January 15, 2026 at 11:29 PM
🌡️ December brought record-breaking average temperatures to 9 Western states, and Idaho had its second-warmest December on record (dating back to 1895).
www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/defaul...
www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/defaul...
⚠️ Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico have the most severe snow drought conditions.
📉 More than 80% of all SNOTEL stations in each state have snow water equivalent levels below the 20th percentile.
www.drought.gov/drought-stat...
📉 More than 80% of all SNOTEL stations in each state have snow water equivalent levels below the 20th percentile.
www.drought.gov/drought-stat...
January 9, 2026 at 3:33 PM
⚠️ Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico have the most severe snow drought conditions.
📉 More than 80% of all SNOTEL stations in each state have snow water equivalent levels below the 20th percentile.
www.drought.gov/drought-stat...
📉 More than 80% of all SNOTEL stations in each state have snow water equivalent levels below the 20th percentile.
www.drought.gov/drought-stat...
❄️ Snow drought update
🛰️ The West’s January 4 snow cover was the lowest for that date in the satellite record since 2001.
🥵 “Every major river basin in the West experienced near-record or record warmth through December 2025, inhibiting the accumulation of snow.”
www.drought.gov/drought-stat...
🛰️ The West’s January 4 snow cover was the lowest for that date in the satellite record since 2001.
🥵 “Every major river basin in the West experienced near-record or record warmth through December 2025, inhibiting the accumulation of snow.”
www.drought.gov/drought-stat...
January 9, 2026 at 3:33 PM
❄️ Snow drought update
🛰️ The West’s January 4 snow cover was the lowest for that date in the satellite record since 2001.
🥵 “Every major river basin in the West experienced near-record or record warmth through December 2025, inhibiting the accumulation of snow.”
www.drought.gov/drought-stat...
🛰️ The West’s January 4 snow cover was the lowest for that date in the satellite record since 2001.
🥵 “Every major river basin in the West experienced near-record or record warmth through December 2025, inhibiting the accumulation of snow.”
www.drought.gov/drought-stat...
❄️ Snow drought update
🛰️ West's Dec. 7 snow cover: lowest for that date in satellite record since 2001
🥵 “Nearly every major river basin in the West experienced a November among the top 5 warmest on record."
www.drought.gov/drought-stat...
📸 My view at Purgatory, north of Durango, on Dec. 12
🛰️ West's Dec. 7 snow cover: lowest for that date in satellite record since 2001
🥵 “Nearly every major river basin in the West experienced a November among the top 5 warmest on record."
www.drought.gov/drought-stat...
📸 My view at Purgatory, north of Durango, on Dec. 12
December 15, 2025 at 9:11 PM
❄️ Snow drought update
🛰️ West's Dec. 7 snow cover: lowest for that date in satellite record since 2001
🥵 “Nearly every major river basin in the West experienced a November among the top 5 warmest on record."
www.drought.gov/drought-stat...
📸 My view at Purgatory, north of Durango, on Dec. 12
🛰️ West's Dec. 7 snow cover: lowest for that date in satellite record since 2001
🥵 “Nearly every major river basin in the West experienced a November among the top 5 warmest on record."
www.drought.gov/drought-stat...
📸 My view at Purgatory, north of Durango, on Dec. 12
December 4, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Looking at percentiles, the snowpack is dismal in most Western states.
Idaho and Wyoming are at record-low levels for this date relative to the 1991-2020 period of record.
www.snow.news/p/grim-weste...
Idaho and Wyoming are at record-low levels for this date relative to the 1991-2020 period of record.
www.snow.news/p/grim-weste...
December 4, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Looking at percentiles, the snowpack is dismal in most Western states.
Idaho and Wyoming are at record-low levels for this date relative to the 1991-2020 period of record.
www.snow.news/p/grim-weste...
Idaho and Wyoming are at record-low levels for this date relative to the 1991-2020 period of record.
www.snow.news/p/grim-weste...
The West could sure use some snow.
The snowpack in seven states is below 50% of normal.
It's still early in the season, but there's a lot of catching up to do.
More details in my latest post at snow.news:
www.snow.news/p/grim-weste...
The snowpack in seven states is below 50% of normal.
It's still early in the season, but there's a lot of catching up to do.
More details in my latest post at snow.news:
www.snow.news/p/grim-weste...
December 4, 2025 at 9:34 PM
The West could sure use some snow.
The snowpack in seven states is below 50% of normal.
It's still early in the season, but there's a lot of catching up to do.
More details in my latest post at snow.news:
www.snow.news/p/grim-weste...
The snowpack in seven states is below 50% of normal.
It's still early in the season, but there's a lot of catching up to do.
More details in my latest post at snow.news:
www.snow.news/p/grim-weste...
Tonight's northern lights in southern Colorado
November 12, 2025 at 4:48 AM
Tonight's northern lights in southern Colorado
Interesting graphic from NASA illustrates how the Milankovitch cycles change the Earth's motion and influence its climate.
science.nasa.gov/science-rese...
science.nasa.gov/science-rese...
November 7, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Interesting graphic from NASA illustrates how the Milankovitch cycles change the Earth's motion and influence its climate.
science.nasa.gov/science-rese...
science.nasa.gov/science-rese...
Rough start for Colorado's snowpack, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.
www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=...
www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=...
November 5, 2025 at 3:10 AM
Rough start for Colorado's snowpack, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.
www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=...
www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=...
And here's the total snowfall accumulation since October 1, 2024.
September 30, 2025 at 5:57 PM
And here's the total snowfall accumulation since October 1, 2024.
Today is the last day of the 2024-2025 Water Year.
This animation shows snow water equivalent from October 1, 2024, to June 1, 2025.
www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/nsa/
This animation shows snow water equivalent from October 1, 2024, to June 1, 2025.
www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/nsa/
September 30, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Today is the last day of the 2024-2025 Water Year.
This animation shows snow water equivalent from October 1, 2024, to June 1, 2025.
www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/nsa/
This animation shows snow water equivalent from October 1, 2024, to June 1, 2025.
www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/nsa/
It's great to see snow falling again in Colorado. This map shows accumulations over the past 14 days.
September 23, 2025 at 11:36 PM
It's great to see snow falling again in Colorado. This map shows accumulations over the past 14 days.
New snow drought update says the snowpack is "abysmal" in Arizona and New Mexico.
www.drought.gov/drought-stat...
www.drought.gov/drought-stat...
March 6, 2025 at 6:29 PM
New snow drought update says the snowpack is "abysmal" in Arizona and New Mexico.
www.drought.gov/drought-stat...
www.drought.gov/drought-stat...
"Exceptional snow drought persists in the Southwest (Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah) as a result of record dry conditions."
www.drought.gov/drought-stat...
www.drought.gov/drought-stat...
February 5, 2025 at 10:44 PM
"Exceptional snow drought persists in the Southwest (Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah) as a result of record dry conditions."
www.drought.gov/drought-stat...
www.drought.gov/drought-stat...
How Colorado’s snowpack is stacking up so far this season.
After a great November (salmon-colored), it’s been a lousy December (beige) for snow in the high country.
nwcc-apps.sc.egov.usda.gov/awdb/basin-p...
After a great November (salmon-colored), it’s been a lousy December (beige) for snow in the high country.
nwcc-apps.sc.egov.usda.gov/awdb/basin-p...
December 18, 2024 at 11:18 PM
How Colorado’s snowpack is stacking up so far this season.
After a great November (salmon-colored), it’s been a lousy December (beige) for snow in the high country.
nwcc-apps.sc.egov.usda.gov/awdb/basin-p...
After a great November (salmon-colored), it’s been a lousy December (beige) for snow in the high country.
nwcc-apps.sc.egov.usda.gov/awdb/basin-p...
December 16, 2024 at 10:00 PM
Bears around home over the years
December 16, 2024 at 2:50 AM
Bears around home over the years
Historical probability of at least 1 inch of snow cover on Christmas (1991-2020)
www.climate.gov/news-feature...
www.climate.gov/news-feature...
December 13, 2024 at 2:53 AM
Historical probability of at least 1 inch of snow cover on Christmas (1991-2020)
www.climate.gov/news-feature...
www.climate.gov/news-feature...
Durango ✈︎ Denver
December 10, 2024 at 3:17 AM
Durango ✈︎ Denver