A record-low snowpack across the Western United States is setting the stage for a severe water crisis, heightened wildfire risk, and intense political conflict over resource allocation. The lack of snow, a critical natural reservoir, will drastically reduce summer water supplies for tens of millions of people, agriculture, and ecosystems. This scarcity will force difficult choices between urban needs, farming communities, and environmental flows, likely escalating legal and political battles. Simultaneously, the resulting dry conditions create a tinderbox environment, significantly increasing the likelihood of an early and intense wildfire season. The compounding pressures of water shortage and fire danger present a major, interconnected challenge for the region’s infrastructure and governance. Read the full article at: https://www.wired.com/story/record-low-snow-in-the-west-will-mean-less-water-more-fire-and-political-chaos/