CODOS UPDATE FEB 15: We needed those storms, still dust free
Greetings from Silverton,
Winter storm #9 and #10 rolled through the first eight days of February and it was very much needed to bump the snowpack a bit closer to normal conditions for this time of year. Southern Colorado in particular needed the boost. We dug a snow profile at Swamp Angel on Feb 1 and another on Feb 12 and measured a 3.6” gain in SWE. Being an atmospheric river system made these storms very warm and wet. At Wolf Creek it was essentially raining graupel for at least two days. The forecast is not looking that exciting with maybe 0.8” of precipitation falling over the next week at Red Mt Pass. A bit more precipitation in the forecast for the Central and Northern Mountains, about 3” at Rabbit Ears and 1.2” at Grand Mesa. Most basins are currently very near normal snowpack (Rio Grande struggling a bit more at 88% of normal), we just need the storms to continue. Let’s see that El Nino come through! We only have approximately one and a half months left of the typical accumulation season.
So far this winter we are dust free. Always good to see, but our big dust-on-snow months are March/April/May, so we are just getting into it. Last year we received our 5th and by far biggest dust event on April 4.
Take Care,
Jeff Derry
