The "catch-up" amounts of snowfall continue to elude us.
The C1 snowpack on 29 March 2002 contained 7.563 inches of
water, which is 57% of the long term mean value, about the
same perentage as last month.
The snow depth was 28 inches, and density was 28%.
This snowpack value is certainly the lowest in my records,
behind 1999, and 1991 March end snowpacks.  In both those years,
the end of April snowpack had increased from March levels,
so there is hope, perhaps, for somewhat of a recovery.

The year that holds the 'spring recovery' record was 1995, when the
March end snowpack was 10 inches.  That year, the snowfall began in ernest
on April 9, and continued until June 1.  The March snowpack value of
10" grew to 16.75" in April, and 19.75" by the end of May, a time
when it is normally zero at C1.
A quick check of many climate related indicies, however, does not show
spring of 2002 to compare similarly to the spring of 1995.  So, I
will not guess about the upcoming April snowfall frequency or amount.

The state of Colorado, according to the NRCS SnoTel records, shows
low snowpack overall, with the lowest still in the southwest, as has been
the case all season.  The San Miguel, Dolores, Animas, San Juan basins
are at 40%, and the upper Rio Grande is 41% of average, for the lowest
in the state.  The highest basin is the Yampa, White at 68%, and the
Laramie/N. Platte, and Upper Colorado basins are also in the mid to upper
60th percentile.
Our South Platte basin is at 57%, but with 70% of average precipitation,
indicating a little less than usual amounts of the winter precipitation
is stored in the snowpack at this time.
And for those of you who follow Wolf Creek Pass amounts, it is at 31% today.

So, there is still another month to make up this deficit, and we shall
see if it will.

The full record of manual samples of C1 snowpack follows.

Unitl next month,
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     7.563

     Average   5.628    8.103    10.479   13.027    14.031