This snow season in the Western U.S. is wrapping up as one of the driest in recent memory. Less snowpack means less runoff, tighter water budgets, and tougher decisions ahead for the hydropower operators, utilities, and water agencies who depend on it. As snow season winds down in the West, the Southern Hemisphere gears up. Early signals point to a highly variable snow season and patterns that will shape water-supply decisions for months to come. Here's what experts are saying is in store: 1. Australia: Early outlooks point to below-average alpine snow as lingering El Niño warmth suppresses storm activity. 2. New Zealand: The Southern Alps are trending toward a warmer, low-accumulation start to the season, raising early concern for mid-winter recharge. 3. Peru: A warmer, drier autumn and winter is expected, pushing the snowline to higher elevations and reducing snow coverage at lower altitudes. 4. Chile: Post-El Niño patterns may bring delayed snowfall and warmer storms across the Andes, pressuring reservoir recovery. From California to New Zealand, water managers are navigating their own version of the same uncertainty: volatile snowpack, tighter margins, and tough decisions. If you're trying to get ahead of it, we put together resources for managing water in snow-driven basins and how improved forecasting changes what you can confidently plan for. → hydroforecast.com/snow
