Dolores River basin snow water equivalent is the highest of the past 36 years

Storms approach Rico, Colorado from southern California.

.

March 31, 2023 - Dolores River Basin snow water equivalent surpassed all recorded readings since 1987

.

National Water and Climate Center

National Resources Conservation Service

U.S. Department of Agriculture

.

Dolores River Basin

SNOTEL network

stations

.

Scotch Creek station south of Rico snow depth reaches 72 inches

.

National Water and Climate Center

National Resources Conservation Service

U.S. Department of Agriculture

.

SW Colorado river basins lead Colorado snowpack

.

March 21, 2023 - The San Miguel, Dolores, Animas and San Juan River basins had the greatest snow water equivalent in Colorado, at 167 percent of normal.

Colorado Snow Survey

National Resources Conservation Service

U.S. Department of Agriculture

.

Snow water equivalent is a measure of the liquid water contained in snowpack. It is more useful than snow depth for estimating the volume of meltwater flow. This is because 3 feet of fresh, dry, fluffy snow may represent only 4-5 inches of SWE, but 3 feet of compacted, wet, spring snow may contain 12 inches or more of SWE. Using SWE helps scientists measure snowpack in a standardized way. Units are inches (in).

From Snow to Flow

United States Geological Survey (USGS)

All Posts
×

Almost done…

We just sent you an email. Please click the link in the email to confirm your subscription!

OKSubscriptions powered by Strikingly