The coming storm is part of the system that dumped heavy rain on California, causing widespread flooding, Barjenbruch said. He expects the snow here will have heavy moisture content and should help get most of the state’s river basins to above normal levels by time the storm moves out.
“The snowpack numbers have come up across all the West and Colorado,” he said. “This will add to that.”
That should make for good skiing, he said, but cautioned that it could increase avalanche risk too. Backcountry skiers should check with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center first, he said.