Layers of snowpack melted rapidly in Colorado in April, which could lead to less water supply in the summer and higher wildfire potential, according to data from the National Integrated Drought Information System.  The federal data, released on May 1, indicate that “substantial and rapid” snowmelt occurred throughout broad swaths of Colorado between April 10-17. Several weather stations maintained by the U.S. Department of Agriculture logged record snowmelt during that week, compared to the same period in prior years. … How quickly snow melts, and when it happens, can impact water availability during hot summer months and affect how likely wildfires are to occur in a region. An area that’s seen rapid snowmelt in early spring could have dried-out vegetation by summer, a potential fuel for blazes. 

Other Colorado River Basin news:

• KDVR (Denver, Colo.): Colorado Parks and Wildlife looking for invasive mussels in Colorado River
• The Colorado Sun (Denver): Designer of Colorado’s Gross Dam expansion warns of possible flooding if judge halts project
• KSL NewsRadio (Salt Lake City, Utah): Southern Utah drought, low snowpack, mean high wildfire risk
• KTNV (Las Vegas, Nev.): Record rainfall soaks Las Vegas, shattering a near 60-year record