Did Colorado’s snowpack peak a month early at a record low? Some signs point to ‘yes’
Has Colorado’s snowpack peak already come and gone? Maybe – and if so, it would be the earliest snowpack peak on record with records dating back to 1987. Those who have been following along with the state’s snowpack since the start of the season already know that the winter of 2025-2026 has brought record-setting dryness to the Centennial State [location of Colorado River headwaters]. … On March 8, statewide snowpack hit a snow-water equivalent of 8.4 inches – and it hasn’t managed to climb to 8.5 inches since. In fact, as of March 14, the state was at 8.2 inches, showing a snowpack decline that hasn’t been seen yet this year.
Other snowpack news around the West:
- San Francisco Chronicle: ‘Snow-eater heat wave’ is searing California. What does it mean for fire season?
- FOX40 (Sacramento, Calif.): Sierra snowpack declining 1% per day — heat wave could expedite that
- FOX2/KTVU (Oakland, Calif.): Is the snow pack lost for the year?
- California Department of Water Resources: News release: DWR is taking action as high temperatures prompt early snow runoff
- Colorado University, Denver: Blog: Why does Colorado care so much about snowpack?
- The Salt Lake Tribune: Opinion: The West is in a world of hurt this spring
