Snowpack hasn’t been this low since December 1999
As of Dec. 29, snowpack in the Roaring Fork basin is at 3.4 inches of snow water equivalent (SWE) or 53% of normal. Last year, snowpack held 6.7 inches of snow water equivalent in the Roaring Fork basin. Snowpack has never been this low at this point in the season since Dec. 29, 1999, when it held 3 inches of SWE.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, about 28% of Pitkin County and 17% of Eagle County are experiencing exceptional drought conditions as of Dec. 23. The Roaring Fork basin is, in fact, the only place in the West with this level of drought intensity.
Snowpack ranges from 39% of normal at Independence Pass to 79% of median at Nast Lake. Colorado Snow Survey Supervisor Brian Domonkos said that snowpack variation across sites can be explained by multiple factors, including storm patterns, moisture levels, elevation and each site’s aspect and microclimate.
Snow water equivalent — the metric used to track snowpack — is the amount of water contained within the snowpack, which will become our future water supply running in local rivers and streams.
