Southern Colorado is seeing an early taste of spring, with unseasonably warm temperatures settling across the region. At the same time, the state’s snowpack has dropped to its lowest level in the modern record for this point in the season.
The last time Colorado’s snowpack was this low in February was in 2002—a year many remember for widespread drought conditions and heightened wildfire risk.
Despite the concerning milestone, there has been a modest improvement over the past week. Statewide snowpack has climbed from 58% to 63% of the seasonal median in just seven days. While still well below average, the increase marks a welcome shift in what has otherwise been a dry winter trend.
The situation remains especially dire in southern Colorado. The Arkansas River Basin, which covers most of the region, continues to post the lowest numbers in the state. It is currently the only major basin sitting below 50% of average snowpack, underscoring ongoing concerns about water supply and drought conditions heading into spring.
Water managers and residents alike will be watching closely in the weeks ahead, hoping for late-season storms to help boost totals before the snowmelt season begins.
