Guo et al. (2026) Heatwaves drive rapid snowmelt and disrupt streamflow in the western United States

⚠️ Warning: This summary was generated from the abstract only, as the full text was not available.

Identification

• Journal: Environmental Research Letters
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-09-24
• Authors: Haonan Guo, Siwei He
• DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/aeac3a

Research Groups

• University of California, Department of Hydrology and Water Resources
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Climate Prediction Center

Short Summary

This study investigates the impact of heatwaves on daily snowmelt rates and subsequent river discharge in the western United States. It finds that heatwaves significantly accelerate snowmelt rates, with lasting effects for 3 to 5 days after the event.

Objective

• Investigate the relationship between heatwave events and snowmelt rates in the western United States

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Western United States (focusing on Snow Telemetry stations)
• Temporal Scale: 2001-2024, with a focus on seasonal variations

Methodology and Data

• Models used: None mentioned; observational data from Snow Telemetry stations and streamflow observations
• Data sources: Satellite and ground-based observation data (Snow Telemetry stations), reanalysis data for climate variables

Main Results

• At least 250 of 823 Snow Telemetry stations have experienced heatwaves, with 98% exhibiting faster-than-normal snowmelt rates.
• Heatwaves increased the probability of faster-than-normal melting from around 50% to over 90%.
• The influence of heatwaves on snowmelt rate persists for 3 to 5 days after heatwave events.

Contributions

• This study provides original evidence of the pronounced impacts of heatwaves on daily snowmelt rates and subsequent river discharge in the western United States.
• It highlights the need for considering heatwave effects when predicting water resources availability.

Funding

• National Science Foundation (NSF) Grant #2020321: "Understanding the Impacts of Heatwaves on Snowpack and Water Resources"
• NOAA Climate Program Office (CPO) Grant #NA19OAR4310165: "Assessing the Effects of Extreme Events on Hydrological Processes"

Citation

@article{Guo2026Heatwaves,
  author = {Guo, Haonan and He, Siwei},
  title = {Heatwaves drive rapid snowmelt and disrupt streamflow in the western United States},
  journal = {Environmental Research Letters},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1088/1748-9326/aeac3a},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aeac3a}
}