Colorado’s record-low snowpack is already raising concerns about increased wildfire risk and water shortages this summer, even as the mountains are still in the depths of winter. Statewide, the snowpack levels are just 61% of median for this time of year, and it would take consistent, record-breaking snowfall for the rest of the season to reach normal peak snowpack levels, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. …  The Laramie-North Platte and Colorado Headwaters river basins, which encompass much of northwest Colorado, have some of the lowest streamflow forecasts in the state, at 50% of 58% of normal, according to the water supply outlook.

Other snowpack and water supply news around the West:

• Western Slope Now (Grand Junction, Colo.): How is the snowpack looking after multiple snow storms?
• Utah News Dispatch (Salt Lake City): Great Salt Lake may hit historic lows this year, despite long-awaited snowfall
• ABC15 (Phoenix): After powerful winter storms, western snowpack improves, but water concerns remain
• The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, Calif.): Editorial: As snowpack rebounds, complacency is biggest water risk
• Weather West: Blog: Following a whiplash transition from record warmth to very heavy mountain snowfall in California, yet another swing back toward anomalous warmth (first damp, then dry)