COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Extremely dry conditions remain on the plains, and we may be paying for it this summer.
Winter brought very little precipitation to the Pikes Peak region. Officially, the Colorado Springs Airport has received less than a third of the average snowfall. That has left critically dry soil moisture levels on the plains and nearby mountains.
However, the interior mountains of Colorado around the Continental Divide have seen abundant and above average snowfall. While river levels should run high this summer, local reservoirs will likely struggle. The persistent La Nina weather pattern has kept the eastern half of the state predominantly dry.
The Drought Monitor has recently placed the plains of Colorado in a severe drought. However, the drought impacts extend all the way into the Sangre De Cristo, Wet, and Rampart mountains. Some tributaries here are near half of the average snowpack. This has secured very high fire danger in the region.
Summer outlooks do not bring much better news. La Nina conditions are expected to remain, although possibly weaken as we head into June. Until significant moisture returns, water levels and fire danger will remain a big concern.
The most recent snowpack figures can be found here.
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