The lowest snow levels in decades in the US West and a brutal heat wave have led ski resorts in New Mexico to remove snow from mountain slopes to stay open. Over half of the 120 ski resorts across the U.S. West have already closed, will close early or never opened due to the mild winter, which saw record-low snowfall. The conditions have raised wildfire risks at higher elevations, causing soil and vegetation to dry out earlier, potentially fueling blazes and potentially disrupting water supply to major cities like Phoenix and Las Vegas. The weather has also led to a decrease in business at a ski resort in Silverthorne, Colorado. The industry supports over 190,000 jobs.