NASA mission targets more accurate snowpack data

Posted on May 4, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
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NASA Airborne Snow Observatory measurements of snow water equivalent (top image) and snow albedo, or reflectivity (bottom image) for the Tuolumne River Basin in California’s Sierra Nevada on April 21, 2013. The snow water equivalent measured the total water contained as snow in the basin on that date at 375 million cubic meters, or enough to fill the Rose Bowl about 1,180 times. The albedo map expresses the percentage of sunlight reflected back to space by the snow. The lower the albedo, the faster the snowmelt rate and runoff. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech.

Aerial surveys with high-tech instruments will create detailed snow maps, yielding better runoff forecasts

FRISCO — Data from an ambitious new NASA aerial program could help resource managers get a jump on global warming, with more precise and timely snowpack measurements.

By Summit Voice

NASA’s Airborne Snow Observatory began it’s three-year demonstration mission in April, with weekly flights over the Tuolumne River Basin in California’s Sierra Nevada and monthly flights over Colorado’s Uncompahgre River Basin. Scientists involved in the program hope to start covering the entire Upper Colorado River Basin.

The data is already paying off for power companies and water managers, who can use real-time updates to allocate water resources more efficiently, for storage, irrigation and municipal supplies.

Most snowpack measurements are currently collected via ground-based surveys and from automated SNOTEL sites. Airborne mapping can cover more ground and gather data from areas without observation stations, resulting in more accurate forecasts. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, global warming, Snow and weather | Tagged: , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Colorado drought expected to persist through spring

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
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Drought persists across all of Colorado.

Reservoir storage reaching historic low levels

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Heading into April, Colorado water managers say snowfall the next few weeks would have to be more than twice or normal for the snowpack to reach the average peak snowpack, which typically happens April 8.

A big swath of the high country, including Summit and Eagle counties, is still classified as being in extreme drought.

After spending the last few months hoping for more snow, water providers now say they are preparing for continued drought conditions in spring and summer. Some towns have already announced strict outdoor watering restrictions staring early in spring. More information on watering restrictions is online at  www.COH2O.co. (more…)

Filed under: agriculture, climate and weather, Colorado, Drought, Snow and weather | Tagged: , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Colorado: Weekend snowstorm delivers

Posted on February 24, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Mountains could see a few more inches Tuesday night

Northeast winds delivered good snow to Colorado's northeastern plains.

Northeast winds delivered good snow to Colorado’s northeastern plains.

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — A storm rolling across the state Saturday night delivered the goods, with every ski area in Colorado reporting new snow Sunday morning. Totals (24 hour) ranged from 11 inches at Monarch to six inches and Wolf Creek and Steamboat, at opposite ends of the state. Most resorts in between also reported about a half a foot of new snow Sunday morning. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Snow and weather, Summit County snow and weather | Tagged: , , , , | 1 Comment »

Colorado: Snowpack creeping up, still trailing 2012

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Northwest, Southwest mountains seeing some drought relief

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None of the state’s river basins has an average snowpack as of Feb. 15.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Colorado’s snowpack is making a mini-comeback, with February snowfall running close to normal across the mountains, piling up at an average rate of 1 to 2 inches per day.

With another storm set to roll into the Rockies the second part of the week, some SNOTEL sites in the southwestern mountains could reach close to average for the first time this winter. But for now, the statewide snowpack is tracking behind last winter, at 75 percent of average as of Feb. 15.

The southwest corner of the state is reporting the highest readings, with the combined San Miguel, Dolores, Animas and San Juan reading at 89 percent of average, the Upper Rio Grande and 79 percent and the Gunnison Basin at 76 percent. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Snow and weather, Summit County snow and weather | Tagged: , , , , | 1 Comment »

Colorado: Storms boost snowpack to 60 percent of average

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Bob Berwyn
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Colorado’s snowpack edged up to above half of the long-term average for this time of year. Map courtesy NRCS.

More snow in the outlook

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — A three-day snowstorm considerably brightened holiday prospects for Colorado ski resorts as well as water managers in the state, as a series of weather systems dropped several feet of snow across many mountain areas. After a couple of cool and clear days leading into the weekend, more snow could fall right around Christmas, fulfilling wishes of fresh powder for locals and visitors alike.

Some of the biggest snow totals were reported from the far northern and southern parts of the state, with the SNOTEL site at Wolf Creek now up to a healthy 42 inches. In the northwest, the Tower SNOTEL site is reporting 59 inches of snow. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Snow and weather, Summit County snow and weather | Tagged: , , , , | 1 Comment »

Colorado: Dust layers a factor in record-early snow melt

Posted on July 11, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Report links wind-blown dust with early runoff

Dust from the desert Southwest is visible on the snow at Loveland Pass, Colorado in this file image from 2010.

NASA Satellite images can trace the dust plumes back to their source.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Along with above-average temperatures and dry and sunny weather, spring dust storms in March and April likely were a significant factor in this year’s record early snow-melt season, according to the Silverton-based Colorado Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies.

Snow that’s darkened by wind-deposited dust absorbs much more heat and hastens the warming of the snowpack to an isothermal state (32 degrees from top to bottom).

In its year-end report, the center explains that the dust layers continue to absorb and add solar energy to the snowpack long after the original dust layer is deposited.  (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Drought, global warming, La Niña, Snow and weather | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

‘Extreme’ drought expanding in Colorado

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Snowpack is gone, streamflows forecast to be well below average

Some level of drought conditions encompass all of Colorado in this Ma9 update from the U.S. Drought Monitor.

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY —Extreme drought conditions are expanding in northwest Colorado, covering most of Garfield, Rio Blanco, and Routt counties as well as portions of Moffat, Pitkin, and Mesa counties — encompassing about 10 percent of the state in a region with critical watersheds for downstream water users.

Eagle and Summit and Grand counties are designated as being in a severe drought, with streamflows forecast to be well below normal across the region.

The latest update from the U.S. Drought monitor shows all of Colorado now experiencing some level of drought, with Eagle County, for example, experiencing pre-drought, moderate drought and severe drought conditions, depending on the exact location. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Drought, Summit County snow and weather | Tagged: , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Colorado: Twisters, fire and … yes, a winter storm watch

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Weekend storm still on track

Even without weather expertise, you can look at this NWS satellite image and sense a big storm winding up across the West, with a big swirl of perturbed air centered just of the coast of northern California as of Thursday afternoon.

Tornadoes on the plains, fire danger and the potential for snow in the western mountains.

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — A quick look at the latest update from the National Weather Service shows something that you can’t find just anywhere. The multi-colored weather map indicates a tornado watch on the eastern plains, a red flag fire warning in the south-central part of the state and a winter storm watch for the western mountains. I’d say, “only in Colorado,” but that would one of those exaggerations that TV meteorologists are prone to use, and I don’t want to be that guy.

Graupel falls in Frisco, Colorado Thursday afternoon.

(more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Snow and weather, Summit County snow and weather | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Colorado: Winds add to avalanche woes

Posted on February 26, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Avalanche danger still at ‘considerable” rating; don’t let your guard down

High winds in the alpine zone have reloaded avalanche paths in the Colorado high country.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Despite a few days of sunny weather across the high country, forecasters with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center warn that the backcountry avalanche danger hasn’t eased much — in fact, strong winds have redeposited some of the fresh snow into avalanche starting zones as thick slabs that are still sitting atop a base of weak layers. (more…)

Filed under: avalanches, Snow and weather, Summit County snow and weather | Tagged: , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Summit County: Winter gains some ground

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

January snowfall above average in Breckenridge

Statewide snowpack is at 72 percent of average.

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — Winter gained a bit of traction in January, as snowfall was above average for the first time this season, by about 20 percent. At his official National Weather Service observation site in Breckenridge, Rick Bly measured 27. 4 inches of snow, against the average 22.4 inches. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, La Niña, seasons, Snow and weather, Summit County snow and weather | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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