It is a bit misleading to call this a snowpack report, because there
is no snow at the C1 measuring site today!  This is the first time since
I have been taking the measurements that the area is snow-free on April 30.
The second driest end of April, since 1981, was 0.8" SWE in 1981.  
Quite possibly, April 30, 1977 was drier at C1, but I cannot confirm that.

The SnoTel reports for the state, as of this morning, show the South Platte basin
snowpack at 34% of average, and the winter precipitation to date at 60%.  
The higher percentage of precipitation compared to snowpack, suggests that
even though the snowpack is low, it should be higher given the amount
of moisture that has fallen.  This is the case throughout the state.

The Laramie/N Platte basin has the highest values in the state, with 48% of
average SWE and 68% precipitation.  The southwest corner of the state is
again the lowest, as it has been all season, with 8% of average SWE (48%
precipitation) in the San Miguel, Dolores, Animas, San Juan basin.  The Upper
Rio Grande has 9% SWE/46% precipitation.

Thus ends the 2001/2002 snow season on a very dry note!

Many are wondering just how dry will the summer be, given
this dry start.  (I have seen virtually no runoff 
with the snow melt so far on Niwot Ridge).

One place to look is www.cdc.noaa.gov/~kew/SWcasts/
(and many thanks to Klaus Wolter for fine efforts here).
The official CPC forecast for May-June shows average (climatology)
temperatures for Colorado, slightly above average 
precipitation for eastern Colorado, and average precipitation
for western Colorado (issued 18 April 2002).

Klaus' experimental forecast for April-June shows northeastern
Colorado recieving about 5% above average precipitation, and the 
July-September forecast shows eastern Colorado recieving 5% to 
10% above average precipitation (issued 9 April 2002).

Based in these forecasts, it appears there is a hope for
some additional, and needed, summer moisture.

Future winter season outlooks?  Who knows, but for what it is worth,
at least one research hydrologist with the USGS, who correctly predicted
that the spring snowfall regime would remain dry, said the next winter
will have about average snowpack, and the following one, 2003-2004, will
be above average.

Time will tell, and lets hope we all survive this summers fire season to
find out!

Until next season,

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    0.0

     Average   5.628    8.103    10.479   13.027    13.363