A look at the statewide snowpack right at the average peak date

04/08/25 8:15am: Today, April 8th is the average date of peak snowpack in CO (across all basins on average) so its a good time to look at the current snowpack numbers as we head towards late spring and summer.

The statewide snowpack is currently at 88% of median (normal) bolstered by near/above normal snowpack across northern CO (96%-102%) and lowered by the much below numbers across southern CO (64%-85%).

Comparing the last 5 years (image 4), unfortunately this year's state snowpack is second lowest in the last 5 years (4 out 5). Here are the average snow-water-equivalent (inches) numbers for the entire state over the last 5 years (including this year and the median).

2023: 21.8
Avg: 16.9
2024: 16.6
2022: 14.1
2025: 13.6
2021: 13.1

On the flipside our local mountains: South Platte Basin ((Front Range Mountains, including Loveland, Berthoud, Eldora, IPW, RMNP, Cameron Pass) is in much better shape but doesn’t peak until around April 26th (so we still have some accumulation time) and this year is sitting 3rd over the last 5 years (but much closer to the median and previous years). Image 5 below.

Avg (04/26): 16.4
2023: 15.2
2024: 14.8
2025: 14.3
Avg (04/08): 14. 0
2021: 13.1
2022: 12.6

First image shows the current percent of normal snowpack for each basin across CO. Also good to see the I-70 mountain corridor / local ski areas (including Summit, Eagle, Pitkin) at 96% of average. On the flipside dismal snowpack numbers for southern CO with only 64% of average for the Upper Rio Grande Basin (Wolf Creek, etc).

Here is the breakdown by basin and a comparison to 03/07.

• South Platte (Front Range mountains, IPW, RMNP): 103% (down from 104%)

• Laramie and North Platte (east-side Zirkel, west-side Cameron): 102% (even from 102%)

• Colorado Headwaters (Grand, Summit, Eagle, Pitkin co. ski areas): 96% (down from 100%)

• Yampa-White-Little Snake (Steamboat / Flat Tops): 96% (even from 92%)

• Gunnison (south Elks, West Elks, CB area): 85% (down from 88%)

• Arkansas (Collegiates, Sangres, Pikes Peak): 74% (down from 75%)

• San Miguel-Dolores-Animas-San Juan (Western San Juans, Telluride, Silverton, Purg): 69% (up from 68%)

• Upper Rio Grande (Eastern San Juans, Wolf Creek): 64% (down from 67%)

I have also included a map (second image) showing the percent normal snowpack across the entire west. A strange pattern this year but kind of fits a weak La Nina pattern with higher than average snowpack across parts of northern CA, southern OR extending into northern UT, southern ID and parts of MT. With much below average snowpack across parts of AZ, NM and southern CO. Also strangely below average over very northern WA / ID near the Canada border.

Finally, I included image 3 which shows total snowfall to date for the season so far (since Sept 15th). You can see where the heavier snow has fallen this year: Park Range north of Steamboat, Flat Tops, middle/upper parts of the Elk Range, parts of the Gore Range to upper Ten Mile Range.

So pretty average overall this year but we still have some time to accumulate more snowpack in parts of northern CO... Forecast looks dry at least the next 7 days but fingers crossed for more snow in the later part of April

What are your thoughts on the current statewide snowpack numbers?