Snowpack nearly gone in parts of southern Colorado as drought worsens and fire danger persists

  • 📰 DenverChannel
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 47 sec. here
  • 2 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 22%
  • Publisher: 63%

United States Headlines News

United States Latest News,United States Headlines

Southern Colorado’s snowpack is already on its last legs, reaching levels for this point in May only seen twice in the past 20 years – 2002 and 2018, which were both marked by large and destructive wildfires and widespread drought. cowx cofire

The Upper Rio Grande basin was at just 9% of median levels Thursday compared to the past 30 years – with just 0.6 inches of snow-water equivalent remaining, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data.

In 2018, which was also comparable in terms of where the snowpack sits as of mid-May in that basin, the snowpack reached 1.4 inches of SWE on May 8. Colorado’s drought has continued to worsen as well, and it will not see any favors with the quick melting of the snowpack. That summer, the Hayman Fire would burn nearly 140,000 acres in the Pike National Forest, destroying hundreds of structures and homes to the tune of more than $42 million. It remains the fourth-largest wildfire in recorded state history and was the largest until the three major fires of 2020 – Cameron Peak, East Troublesome and Pine Gulch.

That summer, the Spring Fire burned 108,045 acres – turning into what at the time was the second-largest fire in state history. It destroyed more than 140 homes and damaged more than 120 others. The 416 Fire burned 54,000 acres near Durango and at the time was the sixth-largest in state history.

 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.
We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 239. in US

United States Latest News, United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Colorado Drought: With More Dry Weather Ahead, Severe Drought Jumps 10% In One WeekFriday is the fifth consecutive day with a Red Flag Warning in the Denver metro area. Worsening drought is playing no small part in the daily threat for wildfires.
Source: CBSDenver - 🏆 612. / 51 Read more »

Why has it been so windy in Colorado? The answer can be found thousands of miles awayThe persistent windy conditions that have been so unpleasant this spring actually have roots nearly 3,000 miles away from Colorado. MikeNelson247 took an in-depth look at the windy conditions in Colorado and the climate connection.
Source: DenverChannel - 🏆 239. / 63 Read more »

Bay Area landscaping business sees 300% increase in irrigation repairs as drought worsensWith California's drought worsening, some are now looking for ways to conserve more water including changing their entire landscape to be drought-tolerant.
Source: abc7newsbayarea - 🏆 529. / 51 Read more »

The baby formula shortage: What parents should knowHere's what parents should know as the baby formula shortage worsens in parts of the U.S.
Source: dothaneagle - 🏆 337. / 59 Read more »

Denver Weather: Fire Danger Remains High In Many AreasMore fire danger heading into the weekend.
Source: CBSDenver - 🏆 612. / 51 Read more »

Denver Weather: More Wind, But Cooler TemperaturesMore fire danger as wind remains very strong on Thursday.
Source: CBSDenver - 🏆 612. / 51 Read more »