How does this year compare to the snow droughts of the past?
Russ Schumacher Colorado’s mountain snowpack is in bad shape this year. It’s been extremely warm, and snowstorms have been few and far between. Based on data from the SNOTEL network, the amount…
Where is the snow? A look at the warm, dry weather and what to expect for the start of 2026
Allie Mazurek The past several weeks have felt more like an extension of fall rather than the beginning of winter in Colorado. While the warmth has been a welcome reprieve to the…
A look back on Water Year 2025
Our Colorado Water Year 2025 Summary is now live! You can explore the full summary on this website, and we’ll summarize some key messages below. Abnormally warm and dry Temperatures…
The changing drought landscape after a big storm and May heat
This week’s US Drought Monitor shows big changes across Colorado. The southeastern plains got some much-needed moisture from a big spring storm last week. This led to improvements in the…
No good news in the snowpack and water supply numbers
The peak in mountain snowpack (the amount of water stored in the snow) is typically in early April in Colorado’s southern mountains, and later in April in the north. Looking…
Another fast, early melt in the southern mountains
As we’ve covered in previous posts, the peak snowpack in Colorado’s mountains generally looked pretty decent this year, with the amount of water stored in the snow peaking pretty close…
Snowpack status as we close in on the peak
Becky Bolinger It’s the beginning of April, which signifies the beginning of the end of our snowpack season. In Colorado, our southern basins typically reach their peak snowpack in the next few…
Colorado mountain snowpack in 2024 so far: decent, fine, ok
We spend a lot of time thinking about snow in our mountains, because Colorado is a headwaters state, and the water stored in that snowpack ends up serving ecosystems, farms,…
Understanding and Predicting Our Precious Western Colorado Water Supply
Peter Goble The Colorado River is the lifeblood of the desert southwestern United States. Its water is used by a population of over 40 million people, is an important source of hydropower,…