Low snow water content tied to higher wildfire burn severity, analysis finds

Across much of the Rocky Mountain West, a winter of record-breaking high temperatures and historically low snowfall has forced people to think about having less water this spring. But it could also mean more severe wildfires this summer, according to new research from Western Colorado University. In a paper published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, researchers from Western's Clark School of Environment and Sustainability found that declining snowpack not only extends the fire season but also increases the severity of forest fires.