Researchers have identified a specific category of heat waves, termed "snow eaters," which are characterized by unusually high temperatures in the spring and early summer. According to a study published in the journal Science Advances, these events occur when temperatures remain above freezing during both day and night for three to five days.
Matthew LaPlante, a journalist and climate scientist at Utah State University, noted that these heat waves can cause snow levels to drop significantly overnight. The study found that snow eater heat waves appear to be occurring earlier in the year and are becoming more widespread across the Western United States as the climate warms. Since the 1850s, the area affected by these events has increased by an average of approximately 40,000 square miles per century, while the first snow eater of a season has been arriving about one month earlier per century.
These rapid melting events can roughly double the rate of snowmelt, which poses challenges for managing water resources. Ben Hatchett, a scientist at Colorado State University’s Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere and a co-author of the study, stated that water intended to be stored as snow enters rivers and streams early, turning a resource into a hazard for reservoirs. Additionally, these conditions may be linked to hazards such as permafrost melt, glacial collapses, and avalanches.
The warming of snow crystals can create a snowball effect when interacting with solar radiation. As crystals warm, they lose their ability to reflect light, causing the snowpack to absorb more sunlight and melt faster. This rapid melt contributes to drought stress in mountain forests, which can increase the intensity and frequency of wildfires. This stress was observed across the West, where many areas experienced record-low snowpack this spring due to above-average air temperatures.
While the study focused on the Western United States, LaPlante suggested that snow eater heat waves likely occur in other regions as well. Scientists hope the use of the term "snow eater" will help draw attention to this phenomenon as research continues into its impacts and causes.
