Even by Colorado standards, late December storms dumped a LOT of snow, depositing 19 inches of snow water equivalent (SWE) and bringing statewide values for precipitation to 120% and snowpack to 126% of median, including the combined Yampa-White-Little Snake basin at 117% (top left). Despite large amounts of snow, reservoir storage throughout the state is still at 74% of normal due to continued below average snowfall last winter. Storage in the Yampa-White-Little Snake River basin is at 77% compared to 97% at the same time last year (top right).
The state is also still experiencing drought as a result of cumulative warm temperatures and below average precipitation. According to the US Drought Monitor, Rio Blanco county is still experiencing moderate to severe drought in most of the county (bottom left), but it’s not all bad news. “Aided by abundant snowfall on the western slope, streamflow forecasts for western river basins are all considerably higher than they were last year at this time,” said NRCS in the Water Supply Outlook Report from Jan. 1. Current streamflow forecasts range from 110% of median at White River near Meeker to 149% of median at Little Snake River near Lily (bottom right).
USDA-NRCS Snow/Water Outlook – https://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/ftpref/support/states/CO/BORCO/borco122.pdf
By LUCAS TURNER | [email protected]om
