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Mountain West Discussion


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20 hours ago, finnster said:

Good post.  I haven't posted here for awhile - been staying away intentionally as hoping for any storms on the front range is pretty much an exercise in futility and disappointment.  I am not a native but have been here longer than most (55 years).  I can say from experience that the last 3 years, and the last 2 decades in general, have not been kind to the front range - to the point that my wife and I considering moving else where.  The things I've liked about the climate here are no more: heavy fall and spring snows (at least once in a while!), upslope storms, thunderstorms in summer afternoons, and more moderate temps in the summer (as noted above June is now just scorching hot - didn't used to be that way).  It seems that storm tracks are to the north of CO or south, and the front range remains in no-mans land.

My brother lives in Payson, AZ and called this morning saying they got 27" of snow.  I am very happy to see the SW get these storms they've truly needed it.  I know everything changes, nothing stays the same.  For whatever reason it just seems the CO front range is bearing the brunt of the bad things about climate change, and who knows if/when that will actually turn around.    

K

 

On 2/22/2019 at 4:24 PM, mayjawintastawm said:

My sense in talking to a bunch of CO natives over the past few years is that the things that are missing are some big early and more late winter/spring upslope events they remember from when they were growing up. May-June used to be reliably greener, according to a PhD I know who is now in his 70s. The past few March/Aprils have not been real wet generally, Junes have been very hot, and Halloween, which was formerly an adventure in freezing one's butt off underneath one's costume, is a much milder affair than days of yore. Let's see what the next couple months bring... we could be pleasantly surprised.

Historically, it's interesting when you think about when the Front Range was first settled by those from the Eastern US about 100-130 years ago. Water booms and busts are normal, with busts more common. A wet few decades lured many to the area, then the Dust Bowl jarred everyone back to reality.

Of course, if you go to the New England board, you'd think they expect an epic blizzard every 10 days between Thanksgiving and Easter. It really was NOT like that in the 1970s other than a few memorable events. :)

 I might also add: although the Dust Bowl may have jarred folks back to reality for awhile, many have since conveniently forgotten or ignore what history has taught us when there is a pile of money to be made.  The amount of land being scraped for new development requiring more water is going on like there is no tomorrow.  Many farmers on the plains increasingly abandon conservation practices learned after the Dust Bowl era to grow more and more row crops (eg corn for bio fuel).  Even Colorado State University, who preaches about climate change and water conservation, recently sold its old football stadium site along the foothills to a developer that will build 600-700 new homes there - complete with blue grass lawns of course.

Examples could go on and on. All this going on in an era of frequent droughts and decreasing precipitation and snow packs.  These dry spells historically have and will continue to happen in Colorado, the difference now being millions of people live here with more and more water demands.

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On 2/20/2019 at 11:04 PM, snowfan789 said:

What do we need for a legitimately snowy pattern just east of the Rockies? Seriously. Trough in the West/negative PNA? Nope. The opposite? Nope. Not sure how it’s even realistically possible at this point when both sides of the coin seem to be yielding close to nada except for a few lucky spots.

I keep telling my wife that the area just east of the Colorado Rockies (i.e. here) has become the place where good storms come to die....:wacko:

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59 minutes ago, raindancewx said:

To be honest, the AMO and PDO have both been negative at times this winter. Looking familiar for Colorado?

AMO was negative in both Nov-Dec, PDO was neutral overall for 2018. We seem to be in a blend of the left two images in some ways.

8K1JoLK.png

So 3/4 = bad for eastern CO. :( Hoping for the upper left box in March and April!

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13 hours ago, finnster said:

I keep telling my wife that the area just east of the Colorado Rockies (i.e. here) has become the place where good storms come to die....:wacko:

I wonder if the northward shift of the jet (thanks to climate change) has something to do with it? Just a passing thought. It’s interesting to note that some places east of but still close to the Rockies that are north of Colorado have had good winters recently, like Billings, MT.

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On 2/24/2019 at 10:23 PM, snowfan789 said:

I wonder if the northward shift of the jet (thanks to climate change) has something to do with it? Just a passing thought. It’s interesting to note that some places east of but still close to the Rockies that are north of Colorado have had good winters recently, like Billings, MT.

Sure there have been some duds the past two years, but Denver (the only reliable long term data site that I can find in the plains) has a long record of ups and downs:

Denver's Official Snowfall Totals From the National Weather Service

Denver Snowfall Long Term Average 1882-2015 = 57.1 inches 
Denver Snowfall Normal 1981-2010 = 53.8 inches
Updated: 2/4/19 (latest from NWS here)
Departure based on long term average
Measurement locations: 
Denver International Airport (2008-Present)
Denver Stapleton Airport (1950-2007)
19th & Stout (1916-1949)
16th & Larimer (1882-1915)
Does moving the station matter?
  Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Total  
Monthly Normal 0.0  0.0  1.0 4.2 7.5 8.1 6.6 7.7 11.4 8.9 1.7 57.1 Monthly
Normal
Cumulative
Normal
0.0 0.0 1.0 5.2 12.7 20.8 27.4 35.1 46.5 55.4 57.1 T 57.1 Cumulative
Normal
 
2018-2019 Jul18 Aug18 Sep18 Oct18 Nov18 Dec18 Jan19 Feb19 Mar19 Apr19 May19 Jun19 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.2 4.5 0.5 4.9 0.0         13.1 -14.0
2017-2018 Jul17 Aug17 Sep17 Oct17 Nov17 Dec17 Jan18 Feb18 Mar18 Apr18 May18 Jun18 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.8 T 4.0 6.4 6.2 4.8 1.5 0.0 0.0 25.7 -29.6
2016-2017 Jul16 Aug16 Sep16 Oct16 Nov16 Dec16 Jan17 Feb17 Mar17 Apr17 May17 Jun17 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.7 9.7 6.3 1.6 T 2.5 T 0.0 21.8 -33.5
2015-2016 Jul15 Aug15 Sep15 Oct15 Nov15 Dec15 Jan16 Feb16 Mar16 Apr16 May16 Jun16 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 11.3 11.3 4.6 11.6 18.4 15.6 0.0 0.0 72.8 17.4
2014-2015 Jul14 Aug14 Sep14 Oct14 Nov14 Dec14 Jan15 Feb15 Mar15 Apr15 May15 Jun15 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.0 12.0 7.2 22.4 2.9 5.3 4.0 0.0 57.8 0.7
2013-2014 Jul13 Aug13 Sep13 Oct13 Nov13 Dec13 Jan14 Feb14 Mar14 Apr14 May14 Jun14 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.4 2.0 4.7 14.3 3.3 6.0 5.6 1.1 0.0 38.4 -18.7
2012-2013 Jul12 Aug12 Sep12 Oct12 Nov12 Dec12 Jan13 Feb13 Mar13 Apr13 May13 Jun13 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.5 1.7 5.2 4.6 14.1 23.5 20.4 3.4 0.0 78.4 21.3
2011-2012 Jul11 Aug11 Sep11 Oct11 Nov11 Dec11 Jan12 Feb12 Mar12 Apr12 May12 Jun12 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 8.5 4.5 16.5 4.9 20.2 T 1.0 0.0 0.0 55.6 -1.9
2010-2011 Jul10 Aug10 Sep10 Oct10 Nov10 Dec10 Jan11 Feb11 Mar11 Apr11 May11 Jun11 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.5 3.3 8.0 5.3 2.5 1.2 1.0 0.0 22.8 -34.7
2009-2010 Jul09 Aug09 Sep09 Oct09 Nov09 Dec09 Jan10 Feb10 Mar10 Apr10 May10 Jun10 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 17.2 9.3 11.1 2.6 5.8 12.8 0.5 1.3 0.0 60.6 3.1
2008-2009 Jul08 Aug08 Sep08 Oct08 Nov08 Dec08 Jan09 Feb09 Mar09 Apr09 May09 Jun09 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 T 1.7 10.3 4.9 T 13.8 7.4 0.0 0.0 38.1 -19.5
2007-2008 Jul07 Aug07 Sep07 Oct07 Nov07 Dec07 Jan08 Feb08 Mar08 Apr08 May08 Jun08 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.0 2.5 20.9 3.1 5.1 5.4 2.9 3.4 0.0 46.3 -11.2
2006-2007 Jul06 Aug06 Sep06 Oct06 Nov06 Dec06 Jan07 Feb07 Mar07 Apr07 May07 Jun07 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 9.8 4.4 29.4 15.9 5.5 6.7 0.9 0.0 0.0 72.6 15.1
2005-2006 Jul05 Aug05 Sep05 Oct05 Nov05 Dec05 Jan06 Feb06 Mar06 Apr06 May06 Jun06 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 9.6 1.0 4.1 3.6 3.0 8.6 0.3 0.2 0.0 30.4 -27.1
2004-2005 Jul04 Aug04 Sep04 Oct04 Nov04 Dec04 Jan05 Feb05 Mar05 Apr05 May05 Jun05 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.4 10.0 2.6 7.4 0.5 4.6 11.4 1.4 0.0 39.3 -18.2
2003-2004 Jul03 Aug03 Sep03 Oct03 Nov03 Dec03 Jan04 Feb04 Mar04 Apr04 May04 Jun04 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.9 4.5 4.6 8.9 1.8 15.3 T 0.0 38.0 -19.5
2002-2003 Jul02 Aug02 Sep02 Oct02 Nov02 Dec02 Jan03 Feb03 Mar03 Apr03 May03 Jun03 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.8 3.9 T T 7.5 35.2 3.4 7.0 0.0 61.8 4.3
2001-2002 Jul01 Aug01 Sep01 Oct01 Nov01 Dec01 Jan02 Feb02 Mar02 Apr02 May02 Jun02 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 4.2 2.9 6.1 2.8 12.5 T 0.7 0.0 30.2 -27.3
2000-2001 Jul00 Aug00 Sep00 Oct00 Nov00 Dec00 Jan01 Feb01 Mar01 Apr01 May01 Jun01 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.2 T 7.6 5.6 8.7 10.6 6.7 11.7 7.2 0.0 58.3 0.8
1999-2000 Jul99 Aug99 Sep99 Oct99 Nov99 Dec99 Jan00 Feb00 Mar00 Apr00 May00 Jun00 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 3.1 4.8 8.4 5.4 6.2 1.8 11.3 4.6 0.0 0.0 45.6 -11.9
1998-1999 Jul98 Aug98 Sep98 Oct98 Nov98 Dec98 Jan99 Feb99 Mar99 Apr99 May99 Jun99 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.0 8.9 6.4 1.3 4.2 19.7 T 0.0 44.5 -13.0
1997-1998 Jul97 Aug97 Sep97 Oct97 Nov97 Dec97 Jan98 Feb98 Mar98 Apr98 May98 Jun98 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 22.1 7.7 9.4 2.3 3.0 17.1 10.5 0.0 0.0 72.1 14.6
1996-1997 Jul96 Aug96 Sep96 Oct96 Nov96 Dec96 Jan97 Feb97 Mar97 Apr97 May97 Jun97 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 4.7 1.5 5.7 1.8 7.0 9.9 3.3 10.7 0.1 0.0 44.7 -12.8
1995-1996 Jul95 Aug95 Sep95 Oct95 Nov95 Dec95 Jan96 Feb96 Mar96 Apr96 May96 Jun96 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 7.4 2.2 6.9 0.6 10.4 3.2 16.4 3.2 0.0 0.0 50.3 -7.2
1994-1995 Jul94 Aug94 Sep94 Oct94 Nov94 Dec94 Jan95 Feb95 Mar95 Apr95 May95 Jun95 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 1.4 T 16.9 3.8 2.0 9.7 7.4 17.2 0.0 0.0 58.4 0.9
1993-1994 Jul93 Aug93 Sep93 Oct93 Nov93 Dec93 Jan94 Feb94 Mar94 Apr94 May94 Jun94 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 5.4 5.4 17.4 5.6 6.1 8.8 9.2 11.2 0.0 0.0 69.1 11.6
1992-1993 Jul92 Aug92 Sep92 Oct92 Nov92 Dec92 Jan93 Feb93 Mar93 Apr93 May93 Jun93 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 20.1 11.0 3.7 16.9 4.9 3.7 0.0 0.0 60.4 2.9
1991-1992 Jul91 Aug91 Sep91 Oct91 Nov91 Dec91 Jan92 Feb92 Mar92 Apr92 May92 Jun92 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 7.3 29.6 1.9 24.3 0.3 15.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 79.0 21.5
1990-1991 Jul90 Aug90 Sep90 Oct90 Nov90 Dec90 Jan91 Feb91 Mar91 Apr91 May91 Jun91 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 7.6 12.0 4.7 14.1 0.8 4.2 14.3 T 0.0 57.7 0.2
1989-1990 Jul89 Aug89 Sep89 Oct89 Nov89 Dec89 Jan90 Feb90 Mar90 Apr90 May90 Jun90 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 2.3 7.8 1.6 11.8 8.4 7.0 21.9 3.6 0.1 0.0 64.5 7.0
1988-1989 Jul88 Aug88 Sep88 Oct88 Nov88 Dec88 Jan89 Feb89 Mar89 Apr89 May89 Jun89 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.8 12.3 13.0 8.2 4.8 9.0 0.0 0.0 50.1 -7.4
1987-1988 Jul87 Aug87 Sep87 Oct87 Nov87 Dec87 Jan88 Feb88 Mar88 Apr88 May88 Jun88 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 T 11.2 21.5 5.8 7.0 13.5 2.0 1.3 0.0 62.3 4.8
1986-1987 Jul86 Aug86 Sep86 Oct86 Nov86 Dec86 Jan87 Feb87 Mar87 Apr87 May87 Jun87 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.3 11.5 4.9 17.0 12.2 11.5 9.9 0.0 0.0 71.3 13.8
1985-1986 Jul85 Aug85 Sep85 Oct85 Nov85 Dec85 Jan86 Feb86 Mar86 Apr86 May86 Jun86 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 8.7 1.9 17.0 10.3 2.4 6.2 2.6 14.0 0.0 0.0 63.1 5.6
1984-1985 Jul84 Aug84 Sep84 Oct84 Nov84 Dec84 Jan85 Feb85 Mar85 Apr85 May85 Jun85 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 5.2 13.1 2.3 5.0 12.5 8.7 7.6 0.8 T 0.0 55.2 -2.3
1983-1984 Jul83 Aug83 Sep83 Oct83 Nov83 Dec83 Jan84 Feb84 Mar84 Apr84 May84 Jun84 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 T T 29.3 11.5 3.4 7.9 12.0 16.8 T 0.0 80.9 23.4
1982-1983 Jul82 Aug82 Sep82 Oct82 Nov82 Dec82 Jan83 Feb83 Mar83 Apr83 May83 Jun83 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.2 1.8 27.1 1.3 0.8 30.5 11.3 7.6 0.0 81.6 24.1
1981-1982 Jul81 Aug81 Sep81 Oct81 Nov81 Dec81 Jan82 Feb82 Mar82 Apr82 May82 Jun82 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.8 3.3 9.9 4.8 1.8 2.0 2.0 T 0.0 26.6 -30.9
1980-1981 Jul80 Aug80 Sep80 Oct80 Nov80 Dec80 Jan81 Feb81 Mar81 Apr81 May81 Jun81 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.5 7.1 1.2 4.1 4.3 24.0 2.9 T 0.0 45.1 -12.4
1979-1980 Jul79 Aug79 Sep79 Oct79 Nov79 Dec79 Jan80 Feb80 Mar80 Apr80 May80 Jun80 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.7 22.3 16.5 12.3 9.6 12.1 10.0 T 0.0 85.5 28.0
1978-1979 Jul78 Aug78 Sep78 Oct78 Nov78 Dec78 Jan79 Feb79 Mar79 Apr79 May79 Jun79 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 T 2.7 6.9 14.2 9.1 5.8 18.2 8.1 8.2 0.0 73.2 15.7
1977-1978 Jul77 Aug77 Sep77 Oct77 Nov77 Dec77 Jan78 Feb78 Mar78 Apr78 May78 Jun78 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.3 4.1 0.7 5.5 6.2 8.6 4.6 13.5 0.0 46.5 -11.0
1976-1977 Jul76 Aug76 Sep76 Oct76 Nov76 Dec76 Jan77 Feb77 Mar77 Apr77 May77 Jun77 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 7.2 4.5 3.1 2.4 3.1 9.6 4.7 0.0 0.0 34.6 -23.1
1975-1976 Jul75 Aug75 Sep75 Oct75 Nov75 Dec75 Jan76 Feb76 Mar76 Apr76 May76 Jun76 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.7 15.2 7.3 3.2 6.4 18.7 1.2 0.0 0.0 54.7 -2.8
1974-1975 Jul74 Aug74 Sep74 Oct74 Nov74 Dec74 Jan75 Feb75 Mar75 Apr75 May75 Jun75 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 1.8 1.0 11.9 2.1 3.6 4.0 14.3 10.9 6.1 0.0 55.7 -1.8
1973-1974 Jul73 Aug73 Sep73 Oct73 Nov73 Dec73 Jan74 Feb74 Mar74 Apr74 May74 Jun74 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.3 9.3 30.8 8.2 10.3 12.8 17.8 0.0 T 91.5 34.0
1972-1973 Jul72 Aug72 Sep72 Oct72 Nov72 Dec72 Jan73 Feb73 Mar73 Apr73 May73 Jun73 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 9.7 19.4 9.8 12.1 3.0 15.1 24.8 1.0 0.0 94.9 37.4
1971-1972 Jul71 Aug71 Sep71 Oct71 Nov71 Dec71 Jan72 Feb72 Mar72 Apr72 May72 Jun72 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 17.2 3.1 1.4 8.4 10.9 9.1 7.1 17.2 0.0 0.0 74.4 16.9
1970-1971 Jul70 Aug70 Sep70 Oct70 Nov70 Dec70 Jan71 Feb71 Mar71 Apr71 May71 Jun71 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 4.6 5.9 9.2 0.9 8.6 11.9 9.6 6.0 0.0 0.0 56.7 -0.8
1969-1970 Jul69 Aug69 Sep69 Oct69 Nov69 Dec69 Jan70 Feb70 Mar70 Apr70 May70 Jun70 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 31.2 5.1 3.1 0.9 0.3 20.5 4.7 0.0 0.0 65.8 8.3
1968-1969 Jul68 Aug68 Sep68 Oct68 Nov68 Dec68 Jan69 Feb69 Mar69 Apr69 May69 Jun69 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 5.8 6.9 2.8 4.2 13.2 T 0.0 0.0 33.3 -24.2
1967-1968 Jul67 Aug67 Sep67 Oct67 Nov67 Dec67 Jan68 Feb68 Mar68 Apr68 May68 Jun68 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.7 9.4 13.1 3.0 7.3 9.2 15.1 T 0.0 58.8 1.3
1966-1967 Jul66 Aug66 Sep66 Oct66 Nov66 Dec66 Jan67 Feb67 Mar67 Apr67 May67 Jun67 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 T 8.3 3.0 1.9 9.9 4.4 6.6 3.6 3.0 0.0 40.7 -16.8
1965-1966 Jul65 Aug65 Sep65 Oct65 Nov65 Dec65 Jan66 Feb66 Mar66 Apr66 May66 Jun66 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 5.5 0.0 5.5 5.6 3.6 14.6 2.8 6.4 2.9 0.0 46.9 -10.6
1964-1965 Jul64 Aug64 Sep64 Oct64 Nov64 Dec64 Jan65 Feb65 Mar65 Apr65 May65 Jun65 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 6.0 4.4 13.2 17.1 14.9 0.3 0.0 0.0 55.9 -1.6
1963-1964 Jul63 Aug63 Sep63 Oct63 Nov63 Dec63 Jan64 Feb64 Mar64 Apr64 May64 Jun64 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.1 3.5 5.9 2.6 12.7 18.4 12.1 1.0 0.0 57.3 -0.2
1962-1963 Jul62 Aug62 Sep62 Oct62 Nov62 Dec62 Jan63 Feb63 Mar63 Apr63 May63 Jun63 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.0 5.0 1.2 9.1 2.1 18.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 36.3 -21.2
1961-1962 Jul61 Aug61 Sep61 Oct61 Nov61 Dec61 Jan62 Feb62 Mar62 Apr62 May62 Jun62 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 5.8 6.2 11.4 3.8 17.2 11.3 6.8 10.0 0.0 0.0 72.5 15.0
1960-1961 Jul60 Aug60 Sep60 Oct60 Nov60 Dec60 Jan61 Feb61 Mar61 Apr61 May61 Jun61 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.6 5.1 17.8 1.0 7.9 29.2 8.6 6.4 0.0 80.6 23.1
1959-1960 Jul59 Aug59 Sep59 Oct59 Nov59 Dec59 Jan60 Feb60 Mar60 Apr60 May60 Jun60 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 12.9 11.8 5.3 2.7 10.7 18.3 9.0 9.3 0.0 0.0 80.0 22.5
1958-1959 Jul58 Aug58 Sep58 Oct58 Nov58 Dec58 Jan59 Feb59 Mar59 Apr59 May59 Jun59 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 T 2.6 9.7 7.7 17.4 17.5 26.8 17.6 0.0 0.0 99.3 41.8
1957-1958 Jul57 Aug57 Sep57 Oct57 Nov57 Dec57 Jan58 Feb58 Mar58 Apr58 May58 Jun58 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.9 3.0 0.8 8.9 12.0 14.4 14.1 0.0 0.0 57.1 -0.4
1956-1957 Jul56 Aug56 Sep56 Oct56 Nov56 Dec56 Jan57 Feb57 Mar57 Apr57 May57 Jun57 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.6 21.3 6.3 5.3 1.6 8.9 25.5 8.8 0.0 78.3 20.8
1955-1956 Jul55 Aug55 Sep55 Oct55 Nov55 Dec55 Jan56 Feb56 Mar56 Apr56 May56 Jun56 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.3 4.1 7.3 2.9 6.3 10.5 13.0 3.7 0.0 0.0 48.1 -9.4
1954-1955 Jul54 Aug54 Sep54 Oct54 Nov54 Dec54 Jan55 Feb55 Mar55 Apr55 May55 Jun55 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 3.9 8.6 3.5 12.2 19.5 4.9 T 0.0 53.0 -4.5
1953-1954 Jul53 Aug53 Sep53 Oct53 Nov53 Dec53 Jan54 Feb54 Mar54 Apr54 May54 Jun54 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 7.2 14.4 2.7 0.6 6.3 7.6 2.6 0.0 41.5 -16.0
1952-1953 Jul52 Aug52 Sep52 Oct52 Nov52 Dec52 Jan53 Feb53 Mar53 Apr53 May53 Jun53 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.2 14.5 3.1 7.4 16.5 11.8 12.0 1.7 0.0 68.2 10.7
1951-1952 Jul51 Aug51 Sep51 Oct51 Nov51 Dec51 Jan52 Feb52 Mar52 Apr52 May52 Jun52 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 4.2 8.1 14.5 11.2 0.3 10.2 25.2 11.2 T 0.0 84.9 27.4
1950-1951 Jul50 Aug50 Sep50 Oct50 Nov50 Dec50 Jan51 Feb51 Mar51 Apr51 May51 Jun51 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 11.9 5.9 15.7 10.5 17.6 12.9 0.0 0.3 74.8 17.3
1949-1950 Jul49 Aug49 Sep49 Oct49 Nov49 Dec49 Jan50 Feb50 Mar50 Apr50 May50 Jun50 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 7.2 0.0 6.0 8.8 2.9 5.4 9.0 13.6 0.0 52.9 -4.6
1948-1949 Jul48 Aug48 Sep48 Oct48 Nov48 Dec48 Jan49 Feb49 Mar49 Apr49 May49 Jun49 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 T 9.3 4.3 22.2 1.5 15.4 7.0 T 0.0 59.7 2.2
1947-1948 Jul47 Aug47 Sep47 Oct47 Nov47 Dec47 Jan48 Feb48 Mar48 Apr48 May48 Jun48 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.6 7.5 6.7 19.2 7.4 20.8 4.1 T 0.0 67.3 9.8
1946-1947 Jul46 Aug46 Sep46 Oct46 Nov46 Dec46 Jan47 Feb47 Mar47 Apr47 May47 Jun47 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 T 6.0 42.6 2.7 8.0 13.0 17.7 2.5 1.0 0.0 93.5 36.0
1945-1946 Jul45 Aug45 Sep45 Oct45 Nov45 Dec45 Jan46 Feb46 Mar46 Apr46 May46 Jun46 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 1.1 2.9 5.5 1.2 10.1 3.0 4.3 T 0.5 0.0 28.6 -28.9
1944-1945 Jul44 Aug44 Sep44 Oct44 Nov44 Dec44 Jan45 Feb45 Mar45 Apr45 May45 Jun45 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.3 2.4 9.1 4.3 3.3 28.2 T 0.0 51.6 -5.9
1943-1944 Jul43 Aug43 Sep43 Oct43 Nov43 Dec43 Jan44 Feb44 Mar44 Apr44 May44 Jun44 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.5 4.0 4.5 13.0 6.2 32.5 19.5 8.3 0.0 90.5 33.0
1942-1943 Jul42 Aug42 Sep42 Oct42 Nov42 Dec42 Jan43 Feb43 Mar43 Apr43 May43 Jun43 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.3 10.6 2.8 4.5 3.2 1.0 11.9 0.0 2.0 0.0 36.3 -21.2
1941-1942 Jul41 Aug41 Sep41 Oct41 Nov41 Dec41 Jan42 Feb42 Mar42 Apr42 May42 Jun42 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 T 0.4 4.2 10.6 7.7 19.5 10.2 6.1 T 0.0 58.7 1.2
1940-1941 Jul40 Aug40 Sep40 Oct40 Nov40 Dec40 Jan41 Feb41 Mar41 Apr41 May41 Jun41 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 7.7 5.4 7.4 2.5 6.0 8.9 0.0 0.0 37.9 -19.6
1939-1940 Jul39 Aug39 Sep39 Oct39 Nov39 Dec39 Jan40 Feb40 Mar40 Apr40 May40 Jun40 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.6 T 4.1 11.2 9.7 20.0 3.3 0.0 0.0 53.9 -3.6
1938-1939 Jul38 Aug38 Sep38 Oct38 Nov38 Dec38 Jan39 Feb39 Mar39 Apr39 May39 Jun39 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 15.3 9.3 9.6 16.3 3.8 3.2 T 0.0 58.0 0.5
1937-1938 Jul37 Aug37 Sep37 Oct37 Nov37 Dec37 Jan38 Feb38 Mar38 Apr38 May38 Jun38 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 T 0.8 4.9 9.0 10.4 6.7 16.4 7.3 2.7 0.0 58.2 0.7
1936-1937 Jul36 Aug36 Sep36 Oct36 Nov36 Dec36 Jan37 Feb37 Mar37 Apr37 May37 Jun37 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 16.5 7.3 3.7 7.7 6.0 11.7 6.6 12.8 0.0 T 72.3 14.8
1935-1936 Jul35 Aug35 Sep35 Oct35 Nov35 Dec35 Jan36 Feb36 Mar36 Apr36 May36 Jun36 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 2.8 6.8 5.7 0.5 6.1 5.6 15.1 2.7 T 0.0 45.3 -12.2
1934-1935 Jul34 Aug34 Sep34 Oct34 Nov34 Dec34 Jan35 Feb35 Mar35 Apr35 May35 Jun35 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 T 0.0 3.9 7.0 0.8 9.6 3.0 23.3 0.7 0.0 48.3 -9.2
1933-1934 Jul33 Aug33 Sep33 Oct33 Nov33 Dec33 Jan34 Feb34 Mar34 Apr34 May34 Jun34 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.5 8.4 T 15.6 8.7 8.8 1.0 0.0 45.0 -12.5
1932-1933 Jul32 Aug32 Sep32 Oct32 Nov32 Dec32 Jan33 Feb33 Mar33 Apr33 May33 Jun33 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 7.0 5.3 8.8 0.2 5.4 9.0 33.8 3.2 0.0 72.7 15.2
1931-1932 Jul31 Aug31 Sep31 Oct31 Nov31 Dec31 Jan32 Feb32 Mar32 Apr32 May32 Jun32 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 T 15.6 0.8 9.2 10.7 16.4 2.7 0.0 0.0 55.4 -2.1
1930-1931 Jul30 Aug30 Sep30 Oct30 Nov30 Dec30 Jan31 Feb31 Mar31 Apr31 May31 Jun32 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 13.6 10.6 0.1 18.0 19.0 12.5 7.2 0.0 81.5 24.0
1929-1930 Jul29 Aug29 Sep29 Oct29 Nov29 Dec29 Jan30 Feb30 Mar30 Apr30 May30 Jun30 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.3 16.2 23.1 10.2 12.5 2.2 8.3 0.0 1.0 0.0 73.8 16.3
1928-1929 Jul28 Aug28 Sep28 Oct28 Nov28 Dec28 Jan29 Feb29 Mar29 Apr29 May29 Jun29 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 7.7 23.1 0.1 2.8 15.2 24.8 6.5 0.4 0.0 80.6 23.1
1927-1928 Jul27 Aug27 Sep27 Oct27 Nov27 Dec27 Jan28 Feb28 Mar28 Apr28 May28 Jun28 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 1.7 T 8.8 4.8 3.9 8.6 15.8 13.4 0.0 0.0 57.0 -0.5
1926-1927 Jul26 Aug26 Sep26 Oct26 Nov26 Dec26 Jan27 Feb27 Mar27 Apr27 May27 Jun27 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 T 4.4 2.3 14.8 2.7 5.2 19.1 9.0 T 0.0 57.5 -0.0
1925-1926 Jul25 Aug25 Sep25 Oct25 Nov25 Dec25 Jan26 Feb26 Mar26 Apr26 May26 Jun26 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 10.5 8.6 13.3 11.0 3.8 13.3 4.2 T 0.0 64.7 7.2
1924-1925 Jul24 Aug24 Sep24 Oct24 Nov24 Dec24 Jan25 Feb25 Mar25 Apr25 May25 Jun25 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 T 0.0 2.8 18.4 3.0 0.6 7.5 T 0.0 0.0 32.3 -25.2
1923-1924 Jul23 Aug23 Sep23 Oct23 Nov23 Dec23 Jan24 Feb24 Mar24 Apr24 May24 Jun24 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 17.9 2.0 15.3 8.6 4.6 20.3 16.1 0.6 0.0 85.4 27.9
1922-1923 Jul22 Aug22 Sep22 Oct22 Nov23 Dec22 Jan23 Feb23 Mar23 Apr23 May23 Jun23 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 15.4 4.8 1.3 13.8 25.7 2.0 T 0.0 63.5 6.0
1921-1922 Jul21 Aug21 Sep21 Oct21 Nov21 Dec21 Jan22 Feb22 Mar22 Apr22 May22 Jun22 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 6.5 9.1 4.9 7.0 4.9 21.0 T 0.0 54.4 -3.1
1920-1921 Jul20 Aug20 Sep20 Oct20 Nov20 Dec20 Jan21 Feb21 Mar21 Apr21 May21 Jun21 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.3 5.6 7.2 12.0 4.5 6.5 16.5 0.0 0.0 56.6 -0.9
1919-1920 Jul19 Aug19 Sep19 Oct19 Nov19 Dec19 Jan20 Feb20 Mar20 Apr20 May20 Jun20 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.9 13.1 6.1 7.3 7.3 7.3 28.3 0.0 0.0 71.3 13.8
1918-1919 Jul18 Aug18 Sep18 Oct18 Nov18 Dec18 Jan19 Feb19 Mar19 Apr19 May19 Jun19 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 T T 14.2 19.6 1.8 6.5 3.4 0.8 0.0 0.0 46.3 -11.2
1917-1918 Jul17 Aug17 Sep17 Oct17 Nov17 Dec17 Jan18 Feb18 Mar18 Apr18 May18 Jun18 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 11.7 T 4.3 8.2 13.3 2.5 19.5 4.7 0.0 64.2 6.7
1916-1917 Jul16 Aug16 Sep16 Oct16 Nov16 Dec16 Jan17 Feb17 Mar17 Apr17 May17 Jun17 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 6.7 10.2 16.3 4.9 6.0 16.1 7.2 12.0 T 79.4 21.9
1915-1916 Jul15 Aug15 Sep15 Oct15 Nov15 Dec15 Jan16 Feb16 Mar16 Apr16 May16 Jun16 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 3.8 10.1 9.0 1.9 5.3 11.5 0.5 0.0 44.1 -13.4
1914-1915 Jul14 Aug14 Sep14 Oct14 Nov14 Dec14 Jan15 Feb15 Mar15 Apr15 May15 Jun15 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.8 2.9 9.7 4.6 14.0 5.6 T 6.4 0.0 44.0 -13.5
1913-1914 Jul13 Aug13 Sep13 Oct13 Nov13 Dec13 Jan14 Feb14 Mar14 Apr14 May14 Jun14 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 4.0 8.6 2.8 57.4 0.4 5.6 11.1 9.0 T 0.0 98.9 41.4
1912-1913 Jul12 Aug12 Sep12 Oct12 Nov13 Dec12 Jan13 Feb13 Mar13 Apr13 May13 Jun13 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 T 6.6 8.9 7.5 5.8 15.7 6.5 15.1 T 0.0 66.1 8.6
1911-1912 Jul11 Aug11 Sep11 Oct11 Nov11 Dec11 Jan12 Feb12 Mar12 Apr12 May12 Jun12 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 T 5.5 4.7 5.9 2.4 22.1 12.9 3.6 13.2 0.0 70.3 12.8
1910-1911 Jul10 Aug10 Sep10 Oct10 Nov10 Dec10 Jan11 Feb11 Mar11 Apr11 May11 Jun11 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 1.3 9.4 1.7 10.2 0.4 8.1 0.0 0.0 31.5 -26.0
1909-1910 Jul09 Aug09 Sep09 Oct09 Nov09 Dec09 Jan10 Feb10 Mar10 Apr10 May10 Jun10 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 T 13.5 11.7 2.3 7.2 2.8 T 6.3 0.0 43.8 -13.7
1908-1909 Jul08 Aug08 Sep08 Oct08 Nov08 Dec08 Jan09 Feb09 Mar09 Apr09 May09 Jun09 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 6.5 13.6 22.9 9.7 2.1 18.3 20.2 25.4 T 0.0 118.7 61.2
1907-1908 Jul07 Aug07 Sep07 Oct07 Nov77 Dec07 Jan08 Feb08 Mar08 Apr08 May08 Jun08 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 1.5 0.0 7.5 6.1 7.8 1.1 2.1 3.5 10.0 0.0 39.6 -17.9
1906-1907 Jul06 Aug06 Sep06 Oct06 Nov06 Dec06 Jan07 Feb07 Mar07 Apr07 May07 Jun07 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 22.7 13.0 T 8.3 2.3 5.3 25.0 9.0 0.0 85.6 27.9
1905-1906 Jul05 Aug05 Sep05 Oct05 Nov05 Dec05 Jan06 Feb06 Mar06 Apr06 Mar06 Jun06 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 13.8 T T 4.8 1.1 23.9 10.6 T 0.0 54.2 -3.3
1904-1905 Jul04 Aug04 Sep04 Oct04 Nov04 Dec04 Jan05 Feb05 Mar05 Apr05 May05 Jun05 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 2.2 7.2 7.0 6.7 5.4 16.0 2.0 0.0 48.5 -9.0
1903-1904 Jul03 Aug03 Sep03 Oct03 Nov03 Dec03 Jan04 Feb04 Mar04 Apr04 May04 Jun04 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 T 4.4 1.5 5.0 1.1 2.5 10.3 2.4 0.0 0.0 27.2 -30.3
1902-1903 Jul02 Aug02 Sep02 Oct02 Nov02 Dec02 Jan03 Feb03 Mar03 Apr03 May03 Jun03 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 T T 4.0 11.5 1.9 7.8 9.9 8.5 2.0 0.0 45.6 -11.9
1901-1902 Jul01 Aug01 Sep01 Oct01 Nov01 Dec01 Jan02 Feb02 Mar02 Apr02 May02 Jun02 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 T 10.3 2.8 6.1 5.0 6.1 0.0 0.0 32.3 -25.2
1900-1901 Jul00 Aug00 Sep00 Oct00 Nov00 Dec00 Jan01 Feb01 Mar01 Apr01 May01 Jun01 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 T 2.0 0.8 5.8 1.9 3.0 15.7 15.4 0.0 0.0 44.6 -12.9
1899-1900 Jul99 Aug99 Sep99 Oct99 Nov99 Dec99 Jan00 Feb00 Mar00 Apr00 May00 Jun00 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.8 T 10.9 1.9 10.8 5.5 19.6 0.0 0.0 49.5 -8.0
1898-1899 Jul98 Aug98 Sep98 Oct98 Nov98 Dec98 Jan99 Feb99 Mar99 Apr99 May99 Jun99 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 T 2.8 9.0 15.5 8.5 9.1 20.4 6.7 T 0.0 72.0 14.5
1897-1898 Jul97 Aug97 Sep97 Oct97 Nov97 Dec97 Jan98 Feb98 Mar98 Apr98 May98 Jun98 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 16.4 3.3 8.3 3.0 6.8 2.6 8.9 15.5 0.0 64.8 7.3
1896-1897 Jul96 Aug96 Sep96 Oct96 Nov96 Dec96 Jan97 Feb97 Mar97 Apr97 May97 Jun97 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.5 0.9 4.6 6.1 10.8 12.1 2.2 0.0 0.0 39.2 -18.3
1895-1896 Jul95 Aug95 Sep95 Oct95 Nov95 Dec95 Jan96 Feb96 Mar96 Apr96 Mar96 Jun96 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 11.4 2.2 3.8 0.7 3.8 4.5 19.9 0.5 1.5 0.0 48.3 -9.2
1894-1895 Jul94 Aug94 Sep94 Oct94 Nov94 Dec94 Jan95 Feb95 Mar95 Apr95 May95 Jun95 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.6 10.5 5.0 3.5 11.9 3.5 T 0.0 37.0 -20.5
1893-1894 Jul93 Aug93 Sep93 Oct93 Nov93 Dec93 Jan94 Feb94 Mar94 Apr94 May94 Jun94 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.8 6.6 4.5 2.4 11.9 10.0 10.7 0.0 0.0 51.9 -5.6
1892-1893 Jul92 Aug92 Sep92 Oct92 Nov92 Dec92 Jan93 Feb93 Mar93 Apr93 May93 Jun93 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 2.5 17.8 1.0 13.6 3.2 9.9 8.9 0.0 57.4 -0.1
1891-1892 Jul91 Aug91 Sep91 Oct91 Nov91 Dec91 Jan92 Feb92 Mar92 Apr92 May92 Jun92 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 T 8.5 17.5 4.5 8.7 6.7 6.4 T 0.0 52.3 -5.2
1890-1891 Jul90 Aug90 Sep90 Oct90 Nov90 Dec90 Jan91 Feb91 Mar91 Apr91 May91 Jun91 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 3.1 0.4 17.0 2.5 31.3 9.2 1.0 0.0 66.5 9.0
1889-1890 Jul89 Aug89 Sep89 Oct89 Nov89 Dec89 Jan90 Feb90 Mar90 Apr90 May90 Jun90 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 14.0 5.8 2.4 2.2 4.1 0.3 7.0 T 0.0 35.8 -21.7
1888-1889 Jul88 Aug88 Sep88 Oct88 Nov88 Dec88 Jan89 Feb89 Mar89 Apr89 Mar89 Jun89 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.0 0.8 5.5 8.4 3.6 T T 0.0 21.3 -36.2
1887-1888 Jul87 Aug87 Sep87 Oct87 Nov87 Dec87 Jan88 Feb88 Mar88 Apr88 May88 Jun88 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.1 2.9 1.8 1.4 4.4 11.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 25.5 -32.0
1886-1887 Jul86 Aug86 Sep86 Oct86 Nov86 Dec86 Jan87 Feb87 Mar87 Apr87 May87 Jun87 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 9.8 10.8 6.5 3.5 1.1 T 0.0 0.0 31.7 -25.8
1885-1886 Jul85 Aug85 Sep85 Oct85 Nov85 Dec85 Jan86 Feb86 Mar86 Apr86 May86 Jun86 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.5 8.3 4.1 7.4 21.8 2.2 0.0 0.0 44.6 -12.9
1884-1885 Jul84 Aug84 Sep84 Oct84 Nov84 Dec84 Jan85 Feb85 Mar85 Apr85 May85 Jun85 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 T 7.4 4.7 7.0 0.5 32.0 T 0.0 51.9 -5.6
1883-1884 Jul83 Aug83 Sep83 Oct83 Nov83 Dec83 Jan84 Feb84 Mar84 Apr84 May84 Jun84 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.7 0.3 5.1 2.2 7.5 3.6 18.0 T 0.0 38.4 -19.1
1882-1883 Jul82 Aug82 Sep82 Oct82 Nov82 Dec82 Jan83 Feb83 Mar83 Apr83 May83 Jun83 Total Departure
DENVER 0.0 0.0 0.0 T 6.6 6.8 20.5 4.5 0.3 11.1 T 0.0 49.8 -7.7
1881-1882 Jul81 Aug81 Sep81 Oct81 Nov81 Dec81 Jan82 Feb82 Mar82 Apr82 May82 Jun82 Total Departure
DENVER N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 5.7 2.0 2.0 6.2 T 0.0 15.9 N/A
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I think there’s some legitimate basis to be concerned about an overall trend towards dryness in at least the Southwest. Not sure if that includes places as far north as Denver. We’ll see, I guess. Less snowfall in the future seems nearly inevitable because of warming temps unless midwinter precip increases appreciably. And the last few years definitely have been rough in these parts. Historical Denver snowfall data is not great because stations have moved over time. Weather at DIA can be very different and often drier than points closer to the city, like the former reporting station at Stapleton.

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I've looked at trends in the Southwest by month, generally for precipitation:

Jan/Aug - flat

May/June - drier

All others - wetter - especially July and December. March was incredibly wet 1998-2007, which is why I find it so bizarre that it has been so dry since, but the long-term trend is still up even in March.

Long-term trends for snow are actually up a bit for most sites in New Mexico, its just a bit warmer, so it tends to melt faster. Also, there is some emerging research that wind is eating a lot of the snow pack too, and that hurts probably more than temperatures. For instance 2016-17 was pretty warm, especially for lows, but also extremely wet, and the mountains did very well...until Spring when it just melted off fast. The ranges here were around 200% of normal at the end of January.

Red River, 8,600 feet above sea level has reliable, same site snow records for 1906-2014, and the trend in snowfall is up from around 125 inches to around 140 inches from what I remember. The Red River ski resort has a base in town and they've reported 133 inches through 2/26, the long term average (1906-2014, Sept-Jun) is around 135.

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3 hours ago, raindancewx said:

I've looked at trends in the Southwest by month, generally for precipitation:

Jan/Aug - flat

May/June - drier

All others - wetter - especially July and December. March was incredibly wet 1998-2007, which is why I find it so bizarre that it has been so dry since, but the long-term trend is still up even in March.

Long-term trends for snow are actually up a bit for most sites in New Mexico, its just a bit warmer, so it tends to melt faster. Also, there is some emerging research that wind is eating a lot of the snow pack too, and that hurts probably more than temperatures. For instance 2016-17 was pretty warm, especially for lows, but also extremely wet, and the mountains did very well...until Spring when it just melted off fast. The ranges here were around 200% of normal at the end of January.

Red River, 8,600 feet above sea level has reliable, same site snow records for 1906-2014, and the trend in snowfall is up from around 125 inches to around 140 inches from what I remember. The Red River ski resort has a base in town and they've reported 133 inches through 2/26, the long term average (1906-2014, Sept-Jun) is around 135.

Thanks for sharing. But, still, there’s reason to worry about the State of the Snowpack. Here’s one example of why I say this (there are plenty): https://www.summitdaily.com/news/snowpack-has-declined-by-an-average-of-41-percent-in-the-rocky-mountains-over-past-3-decades/

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I don't see any actual data in this article. This editor's note at the end tends to make me a bit jaded as the article title suggests something very different:

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to reflect that researchers found the snowpack has declined by 41 percent over 13 percent of Western land area. The decline was not measured over the entire Rocky Mountain region.

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1 hour ago, snowfan789 said:

Ok, I agree but I am confused.  You started by stating that snowfall east of the rockies are experiencing lower snowfall, then you moved to the Southwest, and now you are in the mountain snowpacks.  I'm not a climate change denier, just trying to follow where you are going and the data to support.  I agree by the way with the snowpack, but broad brush generalities of snowfall deficits being anomalous I think need some discussion.  Climate change can equal higher snowfall in areas.

 

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2 hours ago, ValpoVike said:

Ok, I agree but I am confused.  You started by stating that snowfall east of the rockies are experiencing lower snowfall, then you moved to the Southwest, and now you are in the mountain snowpacks.  I'm not a climate change denier, just trying to follow where you are going and the data to support.  I agree by the way with the snowpack, but broad brush generalities of snowfall deficits being anomalous I think need some discussion.  Climate change can equal higher snowfall in areas.

 

That’s not what I said. I said there’s some legitimate basis to be concerned about a trend towards dryness and bemoaned the dry past few winters just east of the Rockies. I cited to pretty thorough research showing that many parts of Southwest region are getting drier. That includes parts of CO.

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I am not sure what to do with this information. Every storm in Fort Collins and Loveland has resulted a low snowfall total since November 11th.  My place has gotten 9.3" since December 1st, which averages to 3.1" per month. The seasonal trend stinks. The Euro has 0.4" of QPF in the form of snow. With cold temperatures, that could be a 6-8" snow amount. Note: The Canadian shows 10.3" for me in 168 hours (Kuchera). The GEFS plumes have a mean QPF of 0.68" in Denver, and a mean of 0.92" in Greeley.

EoA5JAm.png

 

 

ZmXSP4K.png

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31 minutes ago, Chinook said:

I am not sure what to do with this information. Every storm in Fort Collins and Loveland has resulted a low snowfall total since November 11th.  My place has gotten 9.3" since December 1st, which averages to 3.1" per month. The seasonal trend stinks. The Euro has 0.4" of QPF in the form of snow. With cold temperatures, that could be a 6-8" snow amount. Note: The Canadian shows 10.3" for me in 168 hours (Kuchera). The GEFS plumes have a mean QPF of 0.68" in Denver, and a mean of 0.92" in Greeley.

EoA5JAm.png

 

 

ZmXSP4K.png

It's March. Winter pattern doesn't mean much now. There was a massive drop in the SOI from 2/17 to 2/19: -29 to -43. I think it's the biggest drop from a starting point that low in at least five years. There should be some kind of huge storm somewhere in the US around 3/3, whether it ramps up in the West or the East is an open question. The March 1993 Superstorm had a 25 point drop 10 days ahead of it for comparison, so a 14 point fall is pretty big. All that said, I'd expect the trend on 12z to 18z run (shifting south) to continue. The people in the Northern Plains have been suffering their extreme cold for ages now, something has to come along to snap them back to normal - my guess is its a big powerful storm.

19 Feb 2019 1005.91 1010.25 -43.61 -7.84 0.10
18 Feb 2019 1006.97 1009.70 -35.88 -6.21 0.65
17 Feb 2019 1009.02 1010.50 -29.88 -4.72 1.12
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The very fact that I am saying this probably will jinx things, but I’m (as always, cautiously) optimistic for March in the Front Range. The upcoming pattern pretty consistently depicted by the GFS could be the best one so far this winter season, in terms of widespread moisture. The monthly CFS forecast issued today also shows a cold and moist March. It seems to have done okay lately once it’s close to the month it is forecasting and today, of course, is the last day of February.

Now watch things start falling apart...

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15 hours ago, Chinook said:

I am not sure what to do with this information. Every storm in Fort Collins and Loveland has resulted a low snowfall total since November 11th.  My place has gotten 9.3" since December 1st, which averages to 3.1" per month. The seasonal trend stinks. The Euro has 0.4" of QPF in the form of snow. With cold temperatures, that could be a 6-8" snow amount. Note: The Canadian shows 10.3" for me in 168 hours (Kuchera). The GEFS plumes have a mean QPF of 0.68" in Denver, and a mean of 0.92" in Greeley.

 

I know what to do... go play in Durango for a few days. 

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I don't think I -want- low temperatures near zero on three consecutive days.

Quote


533 PM MST Thu Feb 28 2019

...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
LATE SATURDAY NIGHT...

* WHAT...Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 8
  inches possible with up to 12 inches in the Northern Foothills.

* WHERE...The Northern Front Range Foothills, Fort Collins and
  Briggsdale.

* WHEN...From Friday afternoon through late Saturday night.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Travel could be very difficult. The
  hazardous conditions could impact the evening commute. The
  cold wind chills as low as 20 below zero could cause frostbite
  on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.

 

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Temperatures are getting very cold now. I had 4" on the grass in the mid-afternoon, and then it's not a lot deeper, but it has still been snowing. I think the Denver area should be seeing some better accumulations. Radar reflectivity looks better in the last hour. Airport visibility is down under 1 mile.

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Happy March. Right on cue, the potential for rain today in Albuquerque turned into nothing. I still like this March as the first one to top 0.5 inches of precipitation (1932-2018 average) in the city since 2007, but we'll see. The transition into and out of MJO phase 3 can be a pretty good pattern for NM/CO for snow - that's coming up in a few days. 

October 2018 will probably look fairly similar to March 2019 for temps/precip adjusted for time of year when all is said and done given the MJO did the 1-2-3 thing 10/1-10/16, before going into the null phase, and 2/24-3/9 will be 1/2/3 before retiring into the null phase.

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Fort Collins-CSU reported 7.3" for the day (up to 7:00PM) and it is still snowing. I got a little less. I will measure the final total tomorrow morning. Snow was relatively light in the daytime and evening. I got 2" in 8 hours, approximately.

The most recent MONTH with more than 7.0" of snow at Fort Collins was February 2018. (13 months ago). The most recent DAY when Fort Collins got 6" or better was October 14th, 2018. The most recent 7" snowfall was January 4th-5th, 2017, over two years ago.

It is possible that we could have a record low maximum tomorrow (3/3).

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