Below-average snowpack and rapid snow melt will contribute to an early and hot summer across the West, the latest summer forecast shows.
Why it matters: Dryer and warmer conditions raise the chances for wildfires and drought conditions.
State of play: Neither El Niño nor La Niña conditions are present, leading to above-average temperatures and active monsoon seasons in the Southwest, according to meteorologists at Colorado-based OpenSnow.
Zoom in: For Colorado, the higher temperatures will arrive in June and persist through September with intense heat waves.
In terms of precipitation, the monsoon season is expected to start earlier than normal in late June but only clip southwestern areas of the state.
The Front Range will see drier-than-normal conditions at the start and equal chances of above- or below-normal precipitation through the rest of summer.
What they're saying: "If June is hotter and drier … it could mean a rough fire season, especially early on before the monsoon kicks in," said OpenSnow meteorologist Alan Smith.
Caveat: These ENSO-neutral atmospheric conditions can create anomalies.
In September 2013, the conditions led to the historic floods that devastated Lyons and surrounding areas.
