Give Now

Climate Central

Researching and reporting the
science and impacts of climate change

× +

Who We Are

An independent organization of leading scientists and journalists researching and reporting the facts about our changing climate and its impact on the public.

What We Do

Climate Central surveys and conducts scientific research on climate change and informs the public of key findings. Our scientists publish and our journalists report on climate science, energy, sea level rise. Read More

About Our Expertise

Members of the Climate Central staff and board are among the most respected leaders in climate science. Staff members are authorities in communicating climate and weather links, sea level rise, climate. Read More

Climate Central
  • Home
  • Research
    • Publications
  • Partnership Journalism
  • Gallery
    • Interactives
    • Graphics
    • Maps
    • Collections
  • Videos
    • Extreme Weather
    • States of Change
    • On the Media
    • Climate in Context
    • News and Reports
  • Media Library
  • News Archive
  • What We Do
    • Mission Statement
    • What We Do
    • Board
    • Staff
    • Our Programs
      • Climate Science
      • Climate Matters
      • Sea Level Rise
    • History
    • Support Us
      • Your Support Matters
      • Why Climate Central
      • Ways to Give
      • Learn More
    • Financials
    • For the Media
    • Legal/Terms of Use
    • Jobs
    • Climate Services
    • Press Releases
    • Editorial Independence Policy
  • Support Our Work
Mountain Snowmelt and Fire
Download high resolution versions

Mountain Snowmelt and Fire

  • Published: September 2nd, 2009

Anthony Westerling and colleagues studied wildfire statistics and compared them with variations in snowmelt timing from 1970-2003. They divided the period into the 11 earliest melt years, the 11 latest, and 12 “normal” years. This graphic shows the region of analysis, and the ratio of the area burned in the 11 early-melt years, vs. the 11 late-melt years. It is not meant to depict actual fire size or location.

Snowmelt has been coming earlier and earlier on average to the American West in recent decades, in a trend that appears linked to warmer temperatures from climate change. The trends of warming and earlier snowmelt are projected to continue this century.

For more details on Westerling and colleagues' study, watch Washington: Warming and Wildfires. 

Posted in Climate, Extremes, Wildfires, Snow & Ice, United States, Rockies

Featured Research

Picturing Our Future

Picturing Our Future

Seniors at Risk: Heat and Climate Change

Seniors at Risk: Heat and Climate Change

Report: Flooded Future: Global vulnerability to sea level rise worse than previously understood

Report: Flooded Future: Global vulnerability to sea level rise worse than previously understood

Extreme Heat: When Outdoor Sports Become Risky

Extreme Heat: When Outdoor Sports Become Risky

Climate Change is Threatening Air Quality across the Country

Climate Change is Threatening Air Quality across the Country

Ocean at the Door: New Homes and the Rising Sea

Ocean at the Door: New Homes and the Rising Sea

Climate Central

  • Copyright © 2022 Climate Central.
  • Contact
  • Terms
  • Content Licensing
  • Privacy
  • Site Map