Mitch Tobin
Mitch Tobin is co-director of The Water Desk and a multimedia journalist based in southwest Colorado. A former newspaper reporter in Arizona and California, Mitch is the author of snow.news, a free newsletter about the science of snow and the state of the snowpack.
In burned forests, the West’s snowpack is melting earlier
As blazes expand to higher elevations, the impacts cascade downstream
Human emissions are helping fuel the Southwest’s epic drought
Three studies of the Pacific Ocean conclude that lower precipitation isn’t just due to natural causes
When the West’s rivers surge each spring, older groundwater dominates the runoff
A better understanding of groundwater in the headwaters could improve streamflow predictions
Q&A: Snow droughts imperil the American West’s water supply
A lack of snow impacts the West’s water resources, wildfire risk, recreational activities and ecosystem health.
Scientists use cosmic rays to study the snowpack
Extraterrestrial particles offer insights into Earth’s mountain water towers
Taking stock of the spring snowpack
Maps and charts visualize conditions at the April 1 milestone
9 graphics that visualize EPA’s climate change indicators for snow
The downward trajectory for snow carries serious consequences for water supplies, wildlife habitat, wildfire activity and outdoor recreation.
Rain or snow? Observers help scientists understand wintry weather
With a free app, volunteers gather crucial data on what type of precipitation is falling
Tip sheet: monitoring the West’s snowpack
What’s the current state of the snowpack? How have conditions changed over the season?