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ENLARGE
Reservoir and snowpack levels around Colorado are at an 11-year high, according to figures released Tuesday by the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Statewide, the snowpack is at 120 percent of average, and with the 2009 totals for January topping last year’s readings, the readings are the highest since 1997, according to the agency.
It’s only the third time in the last 12 years that the January snowpack level has been above the historic long-term average, state conservationist Allen Green said in a news release.
The highest snowpack totals are in Southern Colorado. The Rio Grande Basin is at 140 percent of average, the highest January total measured since 1985.
Across northern Colorado, totals range from 86 percent of average in the North Platte Basin to 137 percent in the Arkansas Basin. The Colorado River Basin snowpack is at 127 percent of average.
Overall, the state is on track to experience another good runoff year when spring arrives. Streamflow forecasts for the spring and summer months call for near-average to above-average runoff for most of the state.
“At the present time, we still have 60 percent of the snowpack accumulation season ahead of us. There’s a lot that can happen in the next few months that can change this picture; but right now, things look great,” Green said.
As the new year begins, reservoir storage is in good condition statewide. With no basins showing any potential shortages, the statewide totals are at 98 percent of average and are 101 percent of last year’s storage volumes.
Summit County snowfall was near average for the month of December. In Dillon, where Denver Water officials measure temperatures and precipitation for the National Weather Service, 34.5 inches of snow fell, equivalent to 1.72 inches of water.
That was more snow — but less water — than last year, when 29 inches of snow melted down to 2.4 inches of water.
Temperatures spanned a range of 67 degrees at Dillon for the month, with the lowest reading of minus 20 degrees on Dec. 15, and a high that reached 47 degrees on both Dec. 30 and 31.
The average high for the month, 28.6 degrees, was a bit below the historic average of 31.4 degrees.
The average low for December, 4.1 degrees, was a bit warmer than the long-term average of 1.1 degrees.
A chance of snow lingers on and off through the week, with temperatures expected to warm into the 20s today.
Bob Berwyn can be reached at (970) 331-5996, or
at bberwyn@summitdaily.com.
Statewide, the snowpack is at 120 percent of average, and with the 2009 totals for January topping last year’s readings, the readings are the highest since 1997, according to the agency.
It’s only the third time in the last 12 years that the January snowpack level has been above the historic long-term average, state conservationist Allen Green said in a news release.
The highest snowpack totals are in Southern Colorado. The Rio Grande Basin is at 140 percent of average, the highest January total measured since 1985.
Across northern Colorado, totals range from 86 percent of average in the North Platte Basin to 137 percent in the Arkansas Basin. The Colorado River Basin snowpack is at 127 percent of average.
Overall, the state is on track to experience another good runoff year when spring arrives. Streamflow forecasts for the spring and summer months call for near-average to above-average runoff for most of the state.
“At the present time, we still have 60 percent of the snowpack accumulation season ahead of us. There’s a lot that can happen in the next few months that can change this picture; but right now, things look great,” Green said.
As the new year begins, reservoir storage is in good condition statewide. With no basins showing any potential shortages, the statewide totals are at 98 percent of average and are 101 percent of last year’s storage volumes.
Summit County snowfall was near average for the month of December. In Dillon, where Denver Water officials measure temperatures and precipitation for the National Weather Service, 34.5 inches of snow fell, equivalent to 1.72 inches of water.
That was more snow — but less water — than last year, when 29 inches of snow melted down to 2.4 inches of water.
Temperatures spanned a range of 67 degrees at Dillon for the month, with the lowest reading of minus 20 degrees on Dec. 15, and a high that reached 47 degrees on both Dec. 30 and 31.
The average high for the month, 28.6 degrees, was a bit below the historic average of 31.4 degrees.
The average low for December, 4.1 degrees, was a bit warmer than the long-term average of 1.1 degrees.
A chance of snow lingers on and off through the week, with temperatures expected to warm into the 20s today.
Bob Berwyn can be reached at (970) 331-5996, or
at bberwyn@summitdaily.com.
