Mark Losleben - CU INSTAAR Research Staff
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Mark Losleben - CU INSTAAR Research Staff |
The following snowpack conditions on Niwot Ridge have been reported by Mark Losleben for January 2005. Select here for more information about these snowpack reports
Snowy Greetings!
The snowpack news from Niwot Ridge (C1) and Colorado is generally good on 31 January 2005, and points to how quickly conditions can change! As of noon on this date, the snowpack at C1 contains 7.7 inches of water (SWE) which is 98% of average. Two days ago, it was 5.90" SWE, or 77% of average. The increase over the past two days is the result of a rather strange upper air circulation pattern, a deep NE/SW oriented trough. This pattern is proving to be quite the snowmaker for the South Platte basin, and a difficult period for weather forecasters. It is still snowing now, so the actual end of the month values may be even higher.
The Snotel network value for Niwot is 7.6" SWE, or 99% of average, with cumulative winter precipitation of 121%, in good agreement with the hand measurements. Note that the Snowpack Index is less than one (loosely interpreted as warmer than average for snowpack development). Our South Platte basin was the driest in the state two days ago, but today is third driest, with 92% of average snowpack. This barely bests the Yampa/White (89%), and the Laramie/North Platte (90%). The highest snowpacks in the state continue to be in the south. The Upper Rio Grande snowpack/cumulative winter precipitation is 159% / 141%, respectively, and the San Juan/San Miguel/Dolores/ Animas is 156% / 130%.
The snowpack pattern established earlier this year is continuing, both in Colorado, and the western US as a whole. This is a classic El Nino pattern, and this in spite of the weak El Nino oceanic conditions, which are forecasted to stay weak for at least the next three months (6 January NOAA CDC). In the US west, the northern states are generally below average, and the southern states are above. Washington and Oregon are particularly dry, with one basin in Oregon showing 0%! The snowpack in these two states is 27% and 40%, respectively. The highest values are at the Great Basin sites of California (eastern Sierra Nevada), Arizona, and Utah, with 164%, 161%, and 152%, respectively.
In summary, Colorado snowpack continues to be much better than in the past few years (117% of average). Snowpack in the Pacific NW states is particularly dismal, while in the southwestern states it is well above average.
Until next month, cheers!
Mark Losleben
Sno Tel Data Niwot Ridge, C-1
Snow Water Content (inches)
Values are for the end of given month
except as noted for May and June
Season Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
81/82 4.75 10.5 11.75 15.5 14.9 12.0 (17th)
82/83 3.63 4.75 12.75 17 11.75 (30th)
83/84 12.6 13.25 15 18.9 20.75
84/85 3.75 6.25 8.5 10.25 8.75
85/86 6.5 7.5 14 15.38 17.5
86/87 6.25 8.75 11.25 12.75 11.75
87/88 6.5 9.1 12.4 15.75 14.5
88/89 5.5 7.6 11 10.25 5.6
89/90 6.5 9.25 10.75 16.1 16.5
90/91 3 5 7.1 9.38 10
91/92 6.65 6.75 8.5 12.25 10.25
92/93 5.75 6.75 10.75 14 15.875
93/94 7.125 9.063 12.25 13.25 13.25 2.5 (18th)
94/95 2.625 3.925 7.0 10.125 16.75 17.0 (22nd) 12.375(13th) 19.75(30th)
95/96 7.50 12.00 17.5 20.375 18.75 6.125 (15th)
96/97 8.75 12.625 15.125 14.625 20.375 18.0 (15th)
97/98 7.0625 10.0 10.125 12.875 17.25 12.875 (15th)
98/99 3.25 6.625 8.375 9.125 14.125 14.25 (15th)
99/2000 3.5 7.5 10.625 12.375 7.625
00/2001 4.375 5.375 7.125 10.00 9.125
01/2002 2.625 4.25 6.19 7.563 0.0
02/2003 4.00 5.25 8.5 16.75 14.375 11.44 (15th)
03/2004 2.75 4.813 7.75 7.875 10.125 3.69 (14th)
04/2005 4.875 7.7
Average 5.409 7.819 10.274 12.964 13.266