The extra day in February this year did not boost the snowpack at C1 after 
all. The promising weekend storm disappointed! Well, blown and difficult 
forecasts are another sure sign that spring is coming.

The measured C1 snowpack on February 29, 2005 was 74.6% of average, or 7.75 
inches of snowwater equivalent (SWE), 33 inches deep, and ranks 17th out of 
23 years. Although this is low, the trend has been upward this season. It was 
51% at the end of December, 60% in January, and now is almost 75%. So f if 
March produces, as it can, the picture may brighten considerably. April storms 
can also quickly bring a return to normal conditions, so the next two months 
are where the action may be.

The Snotel network reports the C1 snowpack to be 72% of average, with 
cummulative winter precipitation of 74%, and the South Platte basin to be 
68% and 70% respectively (this is the driest Colorado basin).

Colorado as a whole is in fairly good shape, and the earlier trends continue - 
above average snowpack in the southwest, below average in the north/northeast 
basins. The highest snowpack is agan in the Upper Rio Grande, showing 108%/103% 
(snowpack/cummulative winter precipitation, respectively), and the San Miguel, 
Dolores, Animas, San Juan group is showing 105%/98%. The Gunnison basin stands 
at 100%/93%, and the S. Platte again holds the bottom honors with 70%/72%.

Relative snowpack conditions throughout the western US continue as earlier, 
as well: average to above snowpacks in the Pacific NW, east central California 
Sierra Nevada, Nevada, and Utah. Below average in Arizona, New Mexico, and in 
parts of Colorado and Wyoming. There is an interesting difference from earlier 
condtions however. These relative conditions have moderated; the low snowpacks 
have increased and the highest snowpack have decreased. Another interesting 
difference is that more of the winter precipitation is being held in the 
snowpack than average (the Snowpack Index is greater than one). This is in 
contrast to the past few years when the Snowpack Index was mostly less than 
1. Currently, the western US snowpack 99% and cummulative winter precipitation 
is 90%.

What can be expected from ENSO? The NOAA Climate Prediction Center reports 
(Feb 5), that near neutral conditions are expected through March, with 
uncertainty after that.

So, overall, snowpacks are fair to great. It is a little drier in the south, 
wetter in the north in the west as a whole, with the Colorado trend the 
opposite. Peak snowpack often occurs in more maritime areas (near the west 
coast), the southwest and southern Colorado, in the next month. It will be 
later in central and northern Colorado and interior western US states. 
March and April storms can also rapidly increase the snowpacks in these 
later locals, so the potentially exciting times are still to come here at 
C1/Niwot Ridge (The anniversary of the ~7 foot storm is nearing!).

Until next month, Cheers!

Mark

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
      02/2003  4.00     5.25      8.5     16.75    14.375   11.44 (15th)
      03/2004  2.75     4.813     7.75

     Average   5.432    7.824    10.274   13.197    13.409