Current Theme: Waterworks
	Snowpack report - Niwot Ridge - February, 2004 Mark Losleben - CU INSTAAR Research Staff

The following snowpack conditions on Niwot Ridge have been reported by Mark Losleben for February 2004. Select here for more information about these snowpack reports

Greetings!

The extra day in February this year did not boost the snowpack at C1 after all. The promising weekend storm disappointed! Well, blown and difficult forecasts are another sure sign that spring is coming.

The measured C1 snowpack on February 29, 2005 was 74.6% of average, or 7.75 inches of snowwater equivalent (SWE), 33 inches deep, and ranks 17th out of 23 years. Although this is low, the trend has been upward this season. It was 51% at the end of December, 60% in January, and now is almost 75%. So f if March produces, as it can, the picture may brighten considerably. April storms can also quickly bring a return to normal conditions, so the next two months are where the action may be.

The Snotel network reports the C1 snowpack to be 72% of average, with cummulative winter precipitation of 74%, and the South Platte basin to be 68% and 70% respectively (this is the driest Colorado basin).

Colorado as a whole is in fairly good shape, and the earlier trends continue - above average snowpack in the southwest, below average in the north/northeast basins. The highest snowpack is agan in the Upper Rio Grande, showing 108%/103% (snowpack/cummulative winter precipitation, respectively), and the San Miguel, Dolores, Animas, San Juan group is showing 105%/98%. The Gunnison basin stands at 100%/93%, and the S. Platte again holds the bottom honors with 70%/72%.

Relative snowpack conditions throughout the western US continue as earlier, as well: average to above snowpacks in the Pacific NW, east central California Sierra Nevada, Nevada, and Utah. Below average in Arizona, New Mexico, and in parts of Colorado and Wyoming. There is an interesting difference from earlier condtions however. These relative conditions have moderated; the low snowpacks have increased and the highest snowpack have decreased. Another interesting difference is that more of the winter precipitation is being held in the snowpack than average (the Snowpack Index is greater than one). This is in contrast to the past few years when the Snowpack Index was mostly less than 1. Currently, the western US snowpack 99% and cummulative winter precipitation is 90%.

What can be expected from ENSO? The NOAA Climate Prediction Center reports (Feb 5), that near neutral conditions are expected through March, with uncertainty after that.

So, overall, snowpacks are fair to great. It is a little drier in the south, wetter in the north in the west as a whole, with the Colorado trend the opposite. Peak snowpack often occurs in more maritime areas (near the west coast), the southwest and southern Colorado, in the next month. It will be later in central and northern Colorado and interior western US states. March and April storms can also rapidly increase the snowpacks in these later locals, so the potentially exciting times are still to come here at C1/Niwot Ridge (The anniversary of the ~7 foot storm is nearing!).

Until next month, Cheers!

Mark

                      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

     Average   5.432    7.824    10.274   13.197    13.409