Colorado snowpack reaches historical average after months of lagging snowfall

Colorado’s statewide snowpack has hit a major milestone — reaching 100% of the 30-year median — after roughly five months of snowy weather.

Early season storms in mid- and late-October pushed the state above average several times, but statewide data that calculates the water content trapped in the snowpack lagged behind for months until Tuesday, March, 5, roughly a month from the historic peak for snowpack levels, April 7. A snowstorm over the weekend dropped more than a foot of powder across most mountains, and flurries in the forecast through the weekend should keep snow levels stable as more storms are expected to hit the state next week.

At one point this season, Colorado was in the 8th percentile for its snowpack after weeks of dry and warm weather in December. Now, the state has hit the 65th percentile.

This time last year, Colorado’s snowpack was well above the historic average, hovering in the 125% range of the 30-year median, but snowpack levels were below average in 2022.

As evidenced by 2019 snowpack data, a strong series of storms can boost snowpack levels significantly in a short amount of time. A few strong spring storms in March pushed snowpack levels near record-breaking snowpack levels in 2019, resulting in snowfield lingering around the state until after Independence Day.

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Long-range forecasts from the National Weather Service show promise for the rest of the winter season.

There’s high confidence that the next eight to 14 days will bring above average precipitation to the state’s Rocky Mountains region even though temperatures are expected to be above average.

The three- to four-week outlook and the one-month outlook also show that precipitation will likely be above average across Colorado. But when looking at the three-month outlook, there are equal chances for above average and below average precipitation.

This story is from SummitDaily.com