Colorado’s snowpack continues to trend downward, with statewide levels now measuring just 52% of the seasonal median. The decline raises fresh concerns about water supplies as the state moves deeper into winter.
The latest data shows snowpack slipping from 55% of median last week to 52% today, extending what has been a steady and troubling decrease in recent weeks.
Southern Colorado remains the most impacted region. The Arkansas River Basin has fallen to only 42% of average, marking one of the most significant deficits anywhere in the state. Other southern basins are also reporting well-below-normal snow accumulation, adding pressure to an already dry start to the water year.
Despite the discouraging numbers, relief may be on the horizon. A long-anticipated shift in the mid-February weather pattern is now underway. Forecasters say the change will bring immediate rounds of snowfall, along with a more favorable storm track expected to persist for at least the next two weeks.
If the pattern holds, Colorado could begin to chip away at its snowpack deficits heading into late winter — a critical period for building the state’s water reserves before spring runoff begins.
