The Western United States is facing an increased risk of wildfires due to a significant snow drought, with only 30% of the contiguous U.S. covered in snow. This has led to about 20% of the country experiencing severe drought conditions, up from 17.6% last year. AccuWeather reports that warmer and drier conditions are expected to continue in the West, potentially causing an earlier and more intense wildfire season. Although storms are predicted for the West Coast and Rockies, they are unlikely to fully resolve the long-term drought issues.