Current Theme: Waterworks
	Snowpack report - Niwot Ridge - December, 2003 Mark Losleben - CU INSTAAR Research Staff

The following snowpack conditions on Niwot Ridge have been reported by Mark Losleben for December, 2003. Select here for more information about these snowpack reports

This first snowpack report is a bit ahead of the end of the month due to travel schedules, but perhaps this is better than a little late.

On the afternoon of December 29, 2003, the C1 snowpack was 15 inches deep, and contained 2.75" of water (SWE), which is 51% of average (hand measurement). The snowpack is very sugary throughout because there has been very little snow in the past weeks, and a very strong temperature gradient especially during the past few days.

The NRCS Snotel reports the C1 snowpack to have 3.2" SWE or 63% of average. The difference between the two measurements is larger than normal. This may be the result of a thin, uncohesive snowpack, and statisical effects of small numbers. A thin, sugary snowpack is more difficult to accurately capture by hand sampling compared to a deeper and/or more cohesive snowpack, and small changes in low values can appear as large differences on a percentage basis.

The Colorado basin reports are more interesting this year than the last few. The south west portion of the state is finally looking wetter after several very dry years. The west is also doing well, with the north central and north eastern portions driest right now. The Arkansas has the lowest snowpack at 66%/74% of average for SWE and cummulative winter precipitation, respectively. The Yampa/White basin has the most with 108%/101%, respectively. In contrast to recent previous years, the Upper Rio Grande looks very healthy with 91%/88%, as does the San Miquel, Dolores, Animas, San Juan group with 94%/86%, respectively (SWE/precipitation).

This year also differs from the past in that more of the winter precipitation is sequestered in the snowpack than average, as noted by the SWE/precipitation ratios (the % average SWE is generally higher than the % average precipitation).

The western US is also looking quite healthy in general, with the exception of Arizona and New Mexico (although northern NM is not too dry with reports of 74-95% of average. The rest of these two states are in the bottom quartile!). Snowpack in Nevada, Utah, and the California Sierra Nevada west of Reno, are in the 120-200% range. This general pattern of better snowpack in the northern and coastal parts of the west, and dry in Arizona and southertn NM may hold through this winter if Pacific Ocean temperatures behave as predicted. Klaus Wolter reports that ENSO conditions are tending toward El Nino, and that at the very least, a return to La Nina is unlikely (December 7 report).

So, overall, this early winter situation is very positive, even if C1 and the S. Platte are pretty dry - maybe they can catch up!

The complete hand-sampled record for C1 is at the end of this message.

Cheers! Mark L

                      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  

     Average   5.432    7.967    10.389   13.197    13.409