The statewide snowpack in Colorado recorded on Wednesday, April 8, was 65 percent of normal, down from 87 percent last month, according to SNOTEL and snow course observation sites. That means this year’s snowpack ranks third from the minimum year of 2002 in a 30-year period of record.
Colorado mountain snowpack typically peaks on April 9, but the NRCS projects this year’s peak will have occurred one month earlier, closer to March 9, if warm temperatures and below-normal precipitation continue.
If the spring and summer turn out to be warm and dry, this could have an effect on wildfires, producing an early start to the fire season.
