Snowpack hits record low
As of May 1, snowpack in the Roaring Fork basin is at 2.4 inches of snow water equivalent (SWE) or 19% of normal, down from 4.6 inches on April 2. Last year, snowpack held 7.1 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 2.5 inches measured on May 1, 2012.
As of April 28, northwestern Colorado is experiencing exceptional drought conditions, the most severe level, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. This includes all Pitkin and Eagle counties and 51.5% of Garfield County.
Snowpack ranges from 0% of normal at McClure Pass, where it has completely melted, to 39% of median at Ivanhoe as of May 1. Snowpack at Kiln and Nast Lake, has also almost completely melted. The SNOTEL stations at Independence Pass, Chapman Tunnel and North Lost Trail recorded less than one inch of snow water equivalent.
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.
