Snowpack is rough in southwest Colorado and worse for AZ and NM
Monday – 3 Mar 2025 – 9am
February Summary…
The average high for February is 42 and the average low is 9. The record high of 60 occurred on 27 February 1988. The record low of -39 occurred on 1 February 1916. February precip averages 2.02″ and average snowfall is 18.9″. Wolf Creek Pass averages 4.30″ of precip and 68.7″ snow.
At Stevens Field the highest temp was 57 on 3, 24, 25, and 28 Feb and the lowest temp was 1 on 13 Feb. There were 6 days with winds over 30mph. The strongest wind was 40mph on 10 Feb.
How did we do?
For the season 140″ has fallen – 46% of average
Snowpack and Drought…
The Upper San Juan snotel is at 38% of the seasonal median and the Wolf Creek Summit snotel is at 60%
The US drought map on the bottom shows that much of the country is experiencing drought conditions.
March Outlook…
The average high for March is 49 and the average low is 15. The record high of 73 occurred on 19 March 1907. The record low of -25 occurred on 1 March 1913. March precip averages 1.77″ and average snowfall is 15.1″. Wolf Creek Pass averages 4.90″ of precip and 75.8″ snow.
The precip outlook on the right shows equal chances for average precip.
And what do we expect?
Arleen is the expert, and this is what she says…
For the first time in three months the overall pattern is going to be changing to a good winter fetch. Right now, there is a deep arctic airmass that has built over Siberia and the eastern Siberian sea. This area will release occasional bubbles of cold air over the next few weeks. This air will move southeast over the Gulf of Alaska and help to deepen the western seaboard trough, setting up the ideal cool, southwest flow for us as these systems move east.
Remember, in March we are in transition season as we tip back towards the sun. So this sort of system development is better than an atmospheric river which would be a warmer airmass. We expect to see four to five of these systems in the month of March. Both the GFS and the Euro are looking for above average precip though they did last month as well. My forecast is for average precip and snowfall for the month of March. Temperatures will be average. Which will be cooler than they have been this week.
A HUGE thanks for your precip reports and pictures! Reports help verify our forecasts and make us better forecasters.
Another HUGE thanks to our donors and sponsors! You help cover the cost of this web page and our weather subscriptions, necessary to provide you accurate weather reports!
- Shawn
