April snowpack readings show increase in north, decline in south

By Dave Buchanan
Tuesday, April 5, 2011

April snowpack surveys indicate the snowpack statewide at 113 percent of average and 28 percent greater than the snowpack one year ago.

However, snow totals vary widely from north to south.

According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, snowpack readings in the northern and central mountains saw significant increases during March while percentages “declined sharply” across the southern mountains.

“It was a month where the rich got richer and the poor just got poorer”, said Allen Green, NRCS state conservationist.

Steamboat Ski Resort recently announced a summit base measurement of 138 inches, surpassing the previous record of 137 inches set during the 1996/97 season.

Snowpacks ranged from 135 percent of average in the North Platte Basin to 76 percent in the Rio Grande Basin.

Green said it’s possible but “extremely remote” snow conditions may improve in the southern basins because the maximum snowpack normally is reached in early April.