Colorado snowpack at 87 percent of normal after February snow

Despite two weeks of substantial snow accumulations in February, recent storms have failed to return many of the basins to normal March 1st snowpack levels. Statewide, snowpack levels are at 87 percent of normal.

Snowpack is a critical source of groundwater for the state.

The wet weather did provide a major increase in snowpack throughout Colorado though, and it was especially helpful for the Rio Grande basin in the southwestern part of the state.

That area is still ailing after several consecutive years of drought and below normal snowpack. The watershed received 300 percent of normal snowfall in the final 9 days of February.

Water managers use snowpack figures to plan their future water consumption.