Snowpack hits record low
As of March 2, snowpack in the Roaring Fork basin is at 8.7 inches of snow water equivalent (SWE) or 65% of normal. Last year, snowpack held 11.9 inches of snow water equivalent in the Roaring Fork basin. Snowpack has never been this low at this point in the season on record, breaking the previous record low of 9.2 inches measured on March 1, 1990.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, about 28% of Pitkin County and 19% of Eagle County are experiencing exceptional drought conditions as of Feb. 24. The Roaring Fork basin is, in fact, one of the two places in the West with this level of drought intensity.
Snowpack ranges from 55% of normal at Chapman Tunnel to 76% of median at North Lost Trail, as of March 2. 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.
