Winter largely skipped the Western United States

NOAA data show December–February was the second-warmest winter on record for the U.S., and several Western states logged their warmest winters; Colorado recorded an exceptionally warm start to the 2025–2026 water year and low early‑February snowpack levels.

NOAA data place December through February as the second-warmest winter in the agency's 131-year U.S. climate record. Several Western states reported their warmest winter on record, and Colorado experienced an unusually warm start to the 2025–2026 water year. Colorado climate records and the Colorado Climate Center highlight unusually warm conditions. Mountain snowpack measurements in Colorado were unusually low in early February. Reported details: - NOAA ranked the December–February period as the second-warmest winter in the U.S. climate record. - State agencies report Colorado had its warmest start to a water year on record, combining with warm conditions across multiple Western states. - SNOTEL measurements showed statewide snow water equivalent at its lowest early-February level since at least 1987, with some mountain sites at or near record-low snowpack for this point in winter. Summary: The unusually warm winter has left low mountain snowpack across parts of the West, which is important because snowpack feeds major rivers and spring runoff. Undetermined at this time.