Finally, a snowy February blessed us, after a (too) long dry spell, this year! 
At C1, Niwot Ridge, we recieved 44.9 inches of snowfall, and 3.17" SWE (snow 
water equivalent), and have a snowpack 38.5" deep with a SWE content of 8.5", 
as of 27 February 2003 (manual measurements). The SWE content is 81% of average, 
which is a hefty increase over a month ago when it was a mere 60%, showing 
nearly a 1%/day increase!

Note that February is a much easier month to catch up than March, on a percentage 
basis, because it is normally much drier than March. (In other words, an 
additional inch of SWE has a much greater impact on the average in February 
than it does in March).

According to the SnoTel network, the Niwot snowpack agrees well with the manual 
measurement, 81% of average. The cummulative winter precipitation to date is 94%, 
meaning we are still behind in what we might nomrally expect in the snowpack given 
how much precipitation has fallen this winter. This is also true for the South 
Platte basin as a whole (81% SWE and 89% precipitation), but is not true for many 
of the basins in the state, for a change.

The Yampa/White and Upper Colorado basins have the top snowpack SWE percentages, 
90%, but the Yampa/White has recieved 92% of their average precipitation this 
season, and the Upper Colorado a little less, 88%, as of 27 February. The San 
Miguel/Dolores/Animas/San Juan area has the least snowpack, at 72% (79% precipitation), 
and the Upper Rio Grande is close, with 73% SWE and 78% precipitation. Both of 
these are a great improvement over last month when they were 64% and 58%, respectively.

So, the southwest corner of the state contiues to be the driest area, and the 
nothern areas wettest, but all parts have increased their snowpack compared to 
average, in February. Many folks are predicting an above average snowfall in 
March, so the future is looking more promising than it has any time last year.

For a little broader perspective, snowpack SWE conditions over the full western 
US show a mixed El Nino pattern. Consistent with this pattern, the northwest 
Pacific regions are dry (the Coast Range of Oregon has 0% of its snowpack right 
now), but the southwestern regions which should be wet, are also drier than 
normal (Arizona snowpacks range between 35 and 70%). Colorado actually has one 
of the healtier snowpacks compared to the other western states. Some SWE ranges 
for other states:

    * Utah, 50-75%
    * Wyoming, 67-93%
    * Washington, 43-79%
    * Oregon, 0-58%
    * Nevada, 52-100%
    * Idaho, 51-90%. 

Northern NM is actually doing quite well, with four basins over 100%, but the 
southern part of the state is dry (Gila basin has 55%).

Alaska is interesting because its snowpack is a low 35-72% but its winter 
precipitation is 105-138%, a very clear indication that warmth (and other 
factors) are hindering snowack formation there.
In summary, February was a good month for Colorado, and the March outlook 
is favorable for a continued recovery. The manual historical snowpack record 
follows.

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          
      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)  
                                                            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
      02/2003  4.00     5.25      8.5

     Average   5.554    7.967    10.389   13.027    13.363

Addendum

Please pardon the major omission in yesterdays C1 snowpack report. I did 
not give last years figures for comparison, so here they are:

       Feb 2002                  Feb 2003

Niwot (manual)       58%      81%
      (SnoTel)       53%      81%

S. Platte basin      57%      81%

State Maximum        68%      90%   Upper Colorado basin both years
State Minimum        42%      72%   San Miguel/Animas/Dolores/San Juan both years