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
Pinned
Mitch Tobin
@mitchtobin.bsky.social
· Oct 14
Aspen changing in the San Juan National Forest, near Pagosa Springs, Colorado.
Reposted by Mitch Tobin
The current inflow forecast for Lake Powell is bleak.
Lots of winter left to go, but the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center shows if conditions stay dry this spring could bring one of the top 10 lowest flows into Powell, pushing it closer to a loss of hydropower production this summer.
Lots of winter left to go, but the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center shows if conditions stay dry this spring could bring one of the top 10 lowest flows into Powell, pushing it closer to a loss of hydropower production this summer.
January 12, 2026 at 10:43 PM
The current inflow forecast for Lake Powell is bleak.
Lots of winter left to go, but the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center shows if conditions stay dry this spring could bring one of the top 10 lowest flows into Powell, pushing it closer to a loss of hydropower production this summer.
Lots of winter left to go, but the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center shows if conditions stay dry this spring could bring one of the top 10 lowest flows into Powell, pushing it closer to a loss of hydropower production this summer.
Reposted by Mitch Tobin
🌱 The Ted Scripps Fellowships offer a 9-month residential program for experienced journalists to audit CU Boulder environmental courses and develop a journalism project with $80K stipend, tuition, and project funding. Apply by March 1 → www.colorado.edu/cej/ted-scri... #JournalismFellowship
Ted Scripps Fellowships in Environmental Journalism
Interested in deepening your understanding of environmental issues and expanding your journalistic skills? CU Boulder's reputation as one of the nation's best
www.colorado.edu
January 10, 2026 at 4:37 PM
🌱 The Ted Scripps Fellowships offer a 9-month residential program for experienced journalists to audit CU Boulder environmental courses and develop a journalism project with $80K stipend, tuition, and project funding. Apply by March 1 → www.colorado.edu/cej/ted-scri... #JournalismFellowship
Reposted by Mitch Tobin
Much of the West is experiencing a snow drought, with record warmth as well. “This is up there with some of the worst [winters], if not the worst.” www.cnn.com/2026/01/09/c...
January 9, 2026 at 2:53 PM
Much of the West is experiencing a snow drought, with record warmth as well. “This is up there with some of the worst [winters], if not the worst.” www.cnn.com/2026/01/09/c...
"Snow cover in the Upper Colorado River Basin, which includes Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming, sat at 28% of the 25-year median as of Jan. 1, according to the forecast center — the lowest recorded level since 2001."
www.sltrib.com/news/environ...
www.sltrib.com/news/environ...
Utah’s snowpack is at a record low. Here’s what the latest water forecast shows.
Snowpack in the mountains that feed the Colorado River, the water supply for 40 million people, is off to its worst start in a quarter century.
www.sltrib.com
January 9, 2026 at 7:54 PM
"Snow cover in the Upper Colorado River Basin, which includes Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming, sat at 28% of the 25-year median as of Jan. 1, according to the forecast center — the lowest recorded level since 2001."
www.sltrib.com/news/environ...
www.sltrib.com/news/environ...
❄️ 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...
Dismal snowpack in Colorado. Went on a ski road trip anyway. Documented the low-tide winter in a photo essay for snow.news.
www.snow.news/p/photo-essa...
www.snow.news/p/photo-essa...
Photo essay: Low tide in Colorado
Images from a thin winter
www.snow.news
January 8, 2026 at 6:10 PM
Dismal snowpack in Colorado. Went on a ski road trip anyway. Documented the low-tide winter in a photo essay for snow.news.
www.snow.news/p/photo-essa...
www.snow.news/p/photo-essa...
A recent study argues for monitoring the West’s snowpack at strategic hotspots rather than mapping entire basins.
But the paper has sparked pushback from supporters of airborne snow monitoring.
My latest story for The Water Desk unpacks the science and implications:
waterdesk.org/2025/12/scie...
But the paper has sparked pushback from supporters of airborne snow monitoring.
My latest story for The Water Desk unpacks the science and implications:
waterdesk.org/2025/12/scie...
Scientists clash over how to track the West’s vital snowpack
Supporters of airborne snow surveys dispute “hotspots” study on water forecasts
waterdesk.org
January 6, 2026 at 4:50 PM
A recent study argues for monitoring the West’s snowpack at strategic hotspots rather than mapping entire basins.
But the paper has sparked pushback from supporters of airborne snow monitoring.
My latest story for The Water Desk unpacks the science and implications:
waterdesk.org/2025/12/scie...
But the paper has sparked pushback from supporters of airborne snow monitoring.
My latest story for The Water Desk unpacks the science and implications:
waterdesk.org/2025/12/scie...
❄️ Is it OK to eat snow?
🤖 Can AI improve snowfall forecasts?
⛷️ How do ski resorts make snow?
I cover these—and seven more snow stories—in the latest snow.news post.
👉 www.snow.news/p/10-snow-st...
🤖 Can AI improve snowfall forecasts?
⛷️ How do ski resorts make snow?
I cover these—and seven more snow stories—in the latest snow.news post.
👉 www.snow.news/p/10-snow-st...
10 snow stories on my radar
Forecasting, eating, making, and visualizing snow, plus a snowpack update
www.snow.news
December 18, 2025 at 9:17 PM
❄️ Is it OK to eat snow?
🤖 Can AI improve snowfall forecasts?
⛷️ How do ski resorts make snow?
I cover these—and seven more snow stories—in the latest snow.news post.
👉 www.snow.news/p/10-snow-st...
🤖 Can AI improve snowfall forecasts?
⛷️ How do ski resorts make snow?
I cover these—and seven more snow stories—in the latest snow.news post.
👉 www.snow.news/p/10-snow-st...
❄️ 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
Reposted by Mitch Tobin
Almost every station in the Tahoe is measuring record low snowpack/liquid equivalent to date. Precipitation enters the forecast this week, but the freezing level is predicted to remain >9,000 ft. That means rain will be the dominant precipitation type for >95% of the Lake Tahoe watershed. #CAwx
December 15, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Almost every station in the Tahoe is measuring record low snowpack/liquid equivalent to date. Precipitation enters the forecast this week, but the freezing level is predicted to remain >9,000 ft. That means rain will be the dominant precipitation type for >95% of the Lake Tahoe watershed. #CAwx
Reposted by Mitch Tobin
Skimpy snow makes life worse for skiers — and everyone else
The sport may seem selfish, but it reminds us why good snowpack matters.
The sport may seem selfish, but it reminds us why good snowpack matters.
Skimpy snow makes life worse for skiers — and everyone else
The sport may seem selfish, but it reminds us why good snowpack matters.
www.hcn.org
December 11, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Skimpy snow makes life worse for skiers — and everyone else
The sport may seem selfish, but it reminds us why good snowpack matters.
The sport may seem selfish, but it reminds us why good snowpack matters.
Reposted by Mitch Tobin
New report from the Colorado River Research Group: Dancing with Deadpool. It begins: "Conditions on the Colorado River are, to put it bluntly, dire." www.colorado.edu/center/gwc/C...
December 10, 2025 at 12:40 AM
New report from the Colorado River Research Group: Dancing with Deadpool. It begins: "Conditions on the Colorado River are, to put it bluntly, dire." www.colorado.edu/center/gwc/C...
Reposted by Mitch Tobin
High temperatures coupled with mostly below normal precipitation caused low snow-water equivalent (SWE) and worsening drought conditions in November.
Learn more: wwa.colorado.edu/resources/in... @cires.colorado.edu #wx #weather #snowpack #drought
Learn more: wwa.colorado.edu/resources/in... @cires.colorado.edu #wx #weather #snowpack #drought
December 10, 2025 at 12:01 AM
High temperatures coupled with mostly below normal precipitation caused low snow-water equivalent (SWE) and worsening drought conditions in November.
Learn more: wwa.colorado.edu/resources/in... @cires.colorado.edu #wx #weather #snowpack #drought
Learn more: wwa.colorado.edu/resources/in... @cires.colorado.edu #wx #weather #snowpack #drought
Reposted by Mitch Tobin
November 2025 snowfall departure from normal.
December 7, 2025 at 11:57 PM
November 2025 snowfall departure from normal.
Reposted by Mitch Tobin
A category 5-ish atmospheric river (based on intensity & duration of moisture delivery over the PNW) is setting up over the entire width of the North Pacific this week. Forecasted to be ~3x longer than avg ARs. 1/2
www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2025...
www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2025...
A 7,000-mile atmospheric river is stretching from Philippines to the U.S.
The unusually long atmospheric river is forecast to bring heavy rain and high winds to Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and British Columbia starting Monday.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 8, 2025 at 3:07 PM
A category 5-ish atmospheric river (based on intensity & duration of moisture delivery over the PNW) is setting up over the entire width of the North Pacific this week. Forecasted to be ~3x longer than avg ARs. 1/2
www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2025...
www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2025...
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...
A deep dive into how snow, ice, and cold have changed the course of warfare, and why the specter of a nuclear winter still haunts me.
www.snow.news/p/snow-and-w...
www.snow.news/p/snow-and-w...
Snow and warfare: 1776-2026, Part 2
How the cryosphere has shaped military history—and why the specter of nuclear winter endures
www.snow.news
November 25, 2025 at 10:00 PM
A deep dive into how snow, ice, and cold have changed the course of warfare, and why the specter of a nuclear winter still haunts me.
www.snow.news/p/snow-and-w...
www.snow.news/p/snow-and-w...
Reposted by Mitch Tobin
In burned forests, the West’s #snowpack is melting earlier: As blazes expand to higher elevations, the impacts cascade downstream -- Mitch Tobin (WaterDesk.org) coyotegulch.blog/2025/11/24/i...
November 24, 2025 at 1:18 PM
In burned forests, the West’s #snowpack is melting earlier: As blazes expand to higher elevations, the impacts cascade downstream -- Mitch Tobin (WaterDesk.org) coyotegulch.blog/2025/11/24/i...
As the West warms, wildfires are burning at higher elevations and charring watersheds where the snowpack accumulates. New research has found that snow is melting earlier in burned areas. I wrote about the study—and the implications for the water supply and ecosystems.
waterdesk.org/2025/11/in-b...
waterdesk.org/2025/11/in-b...
In burned forests, the West’s snowpack is melting earlier
As blazes expand to higher elevations, the impacts cascade downstream
waterdesk.org
November 20, 2025 at 5:13 PM
As the West warms, wildfires are burning at higher elevations and charring watersheds where the snowpack accumulates. New research has found that snow is melting earlier in burned areas. I wrote about the study—and the implications for the water supply and ecosystems.
waterdesk.org/2025/11/in-b...
waterdesk.org/2025/11/in-b...
Reposted by Mitch Tobin
An impactful #AtmosphericRiver is forecast to make landfall over CA this evening and bring multiple days of heavy precipitation to the state through Sat. Forecasts have trended towards a slower AR, prolonging the event duration & increasing precip. totals. Read more cw3e.ucsd.edu/cw3e-ar-upda...
November 12, 2025 at 11:23 PM
An impactful #AtmosphericRiver is forecast to make landfall over CA this evening and bring multiple days of heavy precipitation to the state through Sat. Forecasts have trended towards a slower AR, prolonging the event duration & increasing precip. totals. Read more cw3e.ucsd.edu/cw3e-ar-upda...
Tonight's northern lights in southern Colorado
November 12, 2025 at 4:48 AM
Tonight's northern lights in southern Colorado
Reposted by Mitch Tobin
Slowest start to a snowpack season since 2017, and 3rd-slowest on record. For all intents and purposes, it's basically our slowest (the difference between 2017/2000 and this year is microscopic).
Really need that pattern flip to help out the mountains next week.
#COwx
Really need that pattern flip to help out the mountains next week.
#COwx
November 11, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Slowest start to a snowpack season since 2017, and 3rd-slowest on record. For all intents and purposes, it's basically our slowest (the difference between 2017/2000 and this year is microscopic).
Really need that pattern flip to help out the mountains next week.
#COwx
Really need that pattern flip to help out the mountains next week.
#COwx
Reposted by Mitch Tobin
See an update on the West’s snowpack and an explanation of how Milankovitch cycles shape the Earth’s climate from journalist @mitchtobin.bsky.social (co-director of WaterDesk.org at CU Boulder) at www.snow.news/p/early-seas...
November 7, 2025 at 9:32 PM
See an update on the West’s snowpack and an explanation of how Milankovitch cycles shape the Earth’s climate from journalist @mitchtobin.bsky.social (co-director of WaterDesk.org at CU Boulder) at www.snow.news/p/early-seas...
New post on snow.news provides an update on the West’s snowpack and an explanation of how Milankovitch cycles shape the Earth’s climate.
www.snow.news/p/early-seas...
www.snow.news/p/early-seas...
Early-season snowpack update
Plus, SnowSlang: M is for "Milankovitch cycles"
www.snow.news
November 7, 2025 at 5:41 PM
New post on snow.news provides an update on the West’s snowpack and an explanation of how Milankovitch cycles shape the Earth’s climate.
www.snow.news/p/early-seas...
www.snow.news/p/early-seas...
Reposted by Mitch Tobin
Heavy autumn rains brought relief to drought-plagued portions of the Southwest, but across the Colorado River basin ongoing water supply concerns still linger amid tense policy negotiations and near record-low reservoir storage. #cawater #coloradoriver mavensnotebook.com/2025/11/05/w...
WATER DESK: Rainfall brings Colorado River drought relief, but concerns for next year’s water supply remain
A forecasted winter La Niña, lingering drought conditions and dwindling reservoirs are causing water managers to worry. By Cassie Sherwood, The Water Desk Heavy autumn rains brought relief to drought-...
mavensnotebook.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Heavy autumn rains brought relief to drought-plagued portions of the Southwest, but across the Colorado River basin ongoing water supply concerns still linger amid tense policy negotiations and near record-low reservoir storage. #cawater #coloradoriver mavensnotebook.com/2025/11/05/w...