Winter in Colorado, 2012-2013 (Denver, Pueblo: commuters, church, traffic)

[wanneroo]

Looks like Colorado has been getting plenty of snow up in the high country with another good month or two to go.

[Teckeeee]

It's nice to see our snowfall picking up in Denver Metro we need it. Supposed to get 6-12 inches this weekend.

[Idunn]

Last May (2012) the high peaks in Rocky Mountain National Park, just west of Estes Park, looked more as they might perhaps in July. Meaning with snow already to a degree well melted and receding. More normally they would be near their apex in snow cover from winter storms before the onset of summer: heavily coated and near uniformly white.

Yesterday was deceptive, as shortly after a brief snowstorm. So these mountains all coated in white, but thinly, and much of that soon melts back in the sun to reveal the ravines and glaciers that do not as easily, and the true source of summer water for such as the Colorado River. By that measure it appears this winter is as dry, if not more so, than last.

Many reports of significant snowfall amounts in the high country from some of these storms. And certainly most welcome. Although if judging only from that seen from Estes Park, that does not seem to be the case in RMNP. Aside from the numbers, one wonders what other personal observations have been elsewhere in this state?

[jim9251]

Article in today's Grand Junction paper, still way below average and the people who worry about such things, are well, worried.

[proveick]

ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/CO/Sno...pdate_snow.pdf

[hollyt00]

Looks like the incoming storm will be centered primarily north of the Palmer Divide. There's a strong north wind with this one which eliminates snow chances!

[Josseppie]

^

uggg oh well. At least the mountains are going to get a lot of snow.

[jim9251]

NWS is sure popping out the warnings:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
1225 AM MST FRI MAR 8 2013

WINTER STORM WARNING

...SIGNIFICANT MOUNTAIN SNOW FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...


CON.KGJT.WS.W.0010.130308T1900Z-130310T0700Z/
GRAND AND BATTLEMENT MESAS-WEST ELK AND SAWATCH MOUNTAINS-
UNCOMPAHGRE PLATEAU AND DALLAS DIVIDE-
NORTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SKYWAY...CRESTED BUTTE...TAYLOR PARK...
MARBLE...RIDGWAY...GLADE PARK...OURAY...TELLURIDE...LAKE CITYCOZ009-012-017-018-081530-
/O.
1225 AM MST FRI MAR 8 2013

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO
MIDNIGHT MST SATURDAY NIGHT...

* TIMING...NOON TODAY UNTIL MIDNIGHT SATURDAY NIGHT. GREATEST
ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY.

* SNOW ACCUMULATION...8 TO 16 INCHES.

* SNOW LEVEL...INITIALLY AROUND 7500 TO 8000 FEET THEN LOWERING
FRIDAY NIGHT.

[jazzlover]

This is the kind of wet late winter storm that is desperately needed. No matter how productive it is, though, it will be "too little, too late" to rescue us from a dismal water year. Most irrigation providers that I know in western Colorado are preparing their users for a 50% of normal water supply this year. A wet spring might bring that up to, say, 60%-65%--understanding that anything less than 75%-80% is considered a pretty severe water deficit. So, whatever happens, the difference won't be one from "bad" to "good," it will, at best, be from "way bad" to "not quite way bad."

[Josseppie]

^

Its never to late as we can always use the moisture and I love spring snow storms. Im just a little sad this one will miss Pueblo as the low pressure is going a tad bit to far north. That being said all this snow the mountains are getting is good and just makes it certain that Pueblo will not be under any water restrictions this summer.