Snowpack still below average

Northern Colorado is looking dry. The monthly snow surveys on the Poudre River and Big Thompson drainages were conducted in late February, and most sites are still below the 30-year average.

The snowpack in Colorado as a whole is currently 90 percent of average, according to Mike Gillespie, snow survey supervisor for the state. The South Platte basin, which includes the Poudre and Big Thompson drainages, was the driest in the state on Feb. 25, at 69 percent of average. The North Platte basin, including North Park and the Laramie River, dropped somewhat from last month and is now at 78 percent of average.

Gillespie noted that the big snow months for the Front Range are March and April. However, he said, "we're continuing to push later in the year, and we have less and less time to recover." El Niño, which can bring spring storms to this area, was strong last year but is fairly neutral this year, he added.

The Feb. 24 snow survey along the Big Thompson drainage showed snow water equivalents from 74 to 80 percent of average. The higher sites were behind last year, while the lower sites were better than last year. On the Poudre drainage, only Snowtel figures were available as of press time. Deadman Hill was at 67 percent of average, while Joe Wright Reservoir was at 65 percent.