The winter continues to be dry, but the snowpack held
its own.  I was not able to measure it yesterday, the end
of the month, and thus was blessed with a little fresh stuff
last night and this morning, which bumped up the values
a few percentage points.

Here are the particulars:
March 1, 2002 snowpack water equivalent (SWE): 6.16 inches, or 58%
of average (1981-2001).  The average depth was 30".
This was an increase of 7% SWE, and 7" in depth from last month.
This is the second lowest SWE on record (1983 had 4.75").
In March, C1 snowpack needs to increase almost 3" to stay at this
percentage level, and if it is to reach "average", it needs
7", which is a lot, but it has happened (spring 1995).  

For comparison, the SnoTel records show C1 at 53%, the same as 
last month, and 5.2" SWE, and the cummulative winter precipitation
is 66%, also about the same as last month (actual value 7.3").
(Note that these values were aken earlier in the recent snowfall
event, which might explain why they are lower).

Our S. Platte basin is at 57% SWE and 67% cummulative precipitation,
which is a few points above last month.
The Upper Colorado and Yampa and White River basins are all tied
for first place in the state, with 68% SWE and about 70% precipitation.
Last place goes to the San Miguel, Dolores, Animas, San Juan basin
at 42% SWE/45% precipitation.  This is just slightly lower than
the Upper Rio Grande wich has 44% SWE/48% precipitation, and had
been in last place the previous two months.

So, the story remains about the same, with the southern part of the
state having the lowest snowpack SWE, but it is still low statewide.
And also unchanging, the reason is not that the snowpack is melting,
or suffering from adverse climatic factors, but that the moisture is
just not falling (yet).  
We shall see what March brings!

Cheers!
Mark L

Sno Tel Data  Niwot Ridge, C-1
Snow Water Content (inches)
Values are for the end of given month
except as noted for May and June

     Season     Dec      Jan      Feb      Mar      Apr     May            Jun 
      81/82    4.75     10.5     11.75    15.5     14.9    12.0   (17th)
      82/83    3.63              4.75     12.75     17     11.75  (30th)
      83/84    12.6     13.25     15      18.9     20.75   
      84/85    3.75     6.25      8.5     10.25    8.75
      85/86     6.5      7.5      14      15.38    17.5
      86/87    6.25     8.75     11.25    12.75    11.75
      87/88     6.5      9.1     12.4     15.75    14.5
      88/89     5.5      7.6      11      10.25     5.6
      89/90     6.5     9.25     10.75    16.1     16.5
      90/91      3        5       7.1     9.38      10
      91/92    6.65     6.75      8.5     12.25    10.25
      92/93    5.75     6.75     10.75     14      15.875
      93/94    7.125    9.063    12.25    13.25    13.25     2.5  (18th)
      94/95    2.625    3.925     7.0     10.125   16.75    17.0  (22nd)  12.375  (13th) 
                                                            19.75 (30th)
      95/96    7.50     12.00    17.5     20.375   18.75     6.125 (15th)
      96/97    8.75     12.625   15.125   14.625   20.375   18.0   (15th)
      97/98    7.0625   10.0     10.125   12.875   17.25    12.875 (15th)
      98/99    3.25     6.625     8.375    9.125   14.125   14.25  (15th)
      99/2000  3.5      7.5      10.625   12.375    7.625   
      00/2001  4.375    5.375     7.125   10.00     9.125
      01/2002  2.625    4.25      6.19

     Average   5.628    8.103    10.479   13.301   14.031