"With spring in full bloom, winter's last stores of snow are beginning to melt. As they do, they'll release much-needed fresh water into streams or the surrounding soil, fueling plant growth and replenishing drinking resources for communities.

It's one of nature's most important annual rituals.

But how soon the snow starts to liquefy, and how quickly it disappears, may depend on more than just the outside temperature. Scientists are finding that wildfires in the western United States may alter the landscape in ways that lead to earlier, faster snowmelt.

That's a big concern for Western water resources. If the snowpack melts and runs off too quickly, it could cause regional freshwater resources to dry up before the cooler fall temperatures set in, increasing the probability of drought."

Chelsea Harvey reports for ClimateWire May 9, 2019. [2]