CODOS Update: April Statewide CODOS Tour Observations WY2018

Greetings from Silverton,

Colorado Dust-on-Snow and Snowpack Conditions

The CSAS team conducted a portion of the April CODOS tour on April 11.  Sites visited were the Front Range locations, Hoosier, Grizzly (Loveland Pass), Berthoud, and Willow Creek Pass.  With a significant winter storm in the forecast from April 12-14, along with accompanying dust storm warnings in the source region of the desert southwest, we opted to sample remaining sites after this system – very likely to deposit dust – had passed through Colorado.  It is fortunate we postponed our trip, a severe dust storm (dust event D5) occurred late afternoon on April 12, immediately followed by snow accumulation of ~9” at Swamp Angel and various amounts throughout Colorado.  Due to the spatial extent and severity of D5 the dust observations we collected on April 11 at Hoosier, Grizzly, Berthoud, and Willow Creek is now rendered obsolete; therefore, we are planning on resampling these sites on April 19.  Immediately following revisiting these sites we will modify this April CODOS report to include those observations. 

We have been holding our breath this season in expectation of major dust events unfolding, waiting for the other shoe to drop, in a sense, on a dismal snowpack in the southern half of the state.  The conditions have been ripe for it all winter with the southwest digging deeper into severe drought, making it more likely we would see large quantities of dust mobilization in the source region.  This dust event (D5) comes right as the southern part of Colorado has likely reached peak SWE and the northern part of Colorado is very near peak SWE, leaving the dust on (or very near the surface) of the snowpack. Except for when it may be temporarily buried by more snow accumulation this dust will advance snowpack warming, increase melt rates, and enhance sublimation for the duration of spring.     

DUST CONDITIONS:  At SASP, the dust-on-snow logs so far this season unfold like this, 1) Dust event D1 was deposited on the basal layer of snow likely with a precipitation event arriving on December 21.  Located at the very base of the snowpack D1 will have no influence on snowmelt.  2) D2 was deposited February 18-19 and is of moderate intensity.  It is still ~20” beneath the surface at SASP and will definitely increase the hydrologic consequences once merged with successive dust events near the surface of the snowpack.  3) D3 was light and deposited March 25 as a dry event, without precipitation, on the surface of the snow.  4) D4 was another dry event deposited directly onto D3 from April 1-3.  It is slightly stronger than D3, and the two layers combined are very evident on/in the snowpack at SASP.  5) D5 was a major dry event, arriving with high winds on April 12 and followed by ~9” of snow accumulation at SASP.  D5 fell on top of D3/D4 which were mostly on the surface of the snow, combining these three dust layers, which are now just under the snow surface at Swamp Angel (4”) and will be a major control on snowmelt once exposed.  As of this writing, D5 is on the surface of the snow at Wolf Creek, Spring Creek, and Park Cone.  D5 is ~12” beneath the surface at Grand Mesa and Rabbit Ears…….Now, let’s add D6.  6) D6 occurred yesterday (April 17, from early morning to late afternoon).  As the Front Range was getting clobbered with high winds and dust originating out of the San Luis Valley, the Western Slope was also getting dust – not nearly the intensity as the Front Range – from our source region of the Desert Southwest.  The morning of April 18, we found D6 is predominantly a light event near Red Mt. Pass.  But D6 will increase snowmelt and advance the timing of when D3-D5 will be exposed to the surface.  Once this happens D3-D6 will merge into one nasty dust layer that will intensify snowmelt and sublimation rates through the remainder of the season.  And……There is currently a dust storm warning in effect until the evening of April 19 in the source region.  But……a closed low is also currently making it’s way to Colorado and expected to deliver precipitation starting April 19-April 21, hopefully in the form of snow and not rain as we have seen at many areas the last couple of storms so far this April (please see weather section at bottom of report).  Please see notes below of our observations from the CODOS sample sites throughout the state, describing if dust is present, it’s intensity, where it is located in the snowpack.

SNOWPACK AND STREAMFLOW:  Hopefully, this year will be a good lesson on how much cumulative SWE matters; meaning, precipitation added to the snowpack after the date of peak SWE to significantly make a difference in cumulative streamflow.  The classic example being the “miracle May” in WY2015 where we had a very poor winter season followed by a very wet month of May that turned our water supply outlook around.  So far this spring we have had a couple good storms, April 6-8 and April 12-14, that have been the cause of sharp increases in many SNOTEL projection plots throughout most of Central/Northern Colorado, and to a much lesser (if at all) degree in the Southern part of the state.  As of this writing, the North Plate and Laramie basins are of average median SWE, the South Platte, Colorado and Yampa basins are of slightly below average median SWE, and the Arkansas, Gunnison, Dolores/San Miguel/Animas/San Juan and Rio Grande are well below average median SWE. As mentioned we have a couple of storms in the forecast that will deliver more snow……….and possibly dust.   

As we noted in the March CODOS tour update, and as USGS gauges are attesting to, snowcover across Colorado (besides Rabbit Ears and nearby mountains) below 10,000’ is lacking. This is likely contributing to the lower stream flow we are seeing statewide. And what snowmelt runoff was present at lower elevations may have been absorbed by the dry soils.  

We are posting the snow profiles collected and new photos on each CODOS site’s webpage, as well as hydrographs and SWE graphs.  Below you will also find a summary table and brief discussion for each CODOS location.  Using the Dust Enhanced Runoff Classification (DERC) approach, links to hydrographs of the CODOS sites from WY2006-2017 are collated and presented to help with ascertaining what this spring runoff scenario might look like.  We anticipate at least one additional full circuit of our ten CODOS sites this season as well as intensive monitoring at Senator Beck Basin (SBB).      

Table 1.  Dust and snowpack conditions as of April 16, and updated on April 20 for Front Range sites, with current DERC categorization.  This is the time of year when we try to categorize dust severity throughout Colorado into either “Minimum”, “Average”, or “Maximum”.  All locations are now classified as "Average" dust severity, but within that classification there is a bit of variance.  Wolf Creek, Swamp Angel, and possibly Grand Mesa are on the upper end of average, while Central and Northern Colorado are more in the middle range of average.  Within that categorization, along with pictures, we try to elaborate as to the local characteristics of the dust.  The intent is to assess the effects of the dust on snowmelt.  The table below summarizes dust events observed during the recent CODOS tour as well as the classification of total severity of dust-on-snow at each location.  Considering this information along with March 1 SWE conditions and a current estimation of spring weather conditions, previous water year hydrographs are suggested as possibly meeting similar conditions as WY2018, and what the ensuing spring runoff might look like.   “Current DERC Spring Conditions” are characterizations of spring weather to date (March-April 16).  If there are no previous water years in the DERC matrix to directly compare with WY2018, then these sites are noted in bold, and alternate water years are presented that may offer an idea of possible runoff scenarios that are close to current conditions.  Years in parenthesis are nearest neighbor dust conditions that also may shed light on runoff scenarios.  In the pdf links under each CODOS sample site are the hydrographs for viewing.

SWE CONDITIONS

BASIN SWE CONDITIONS

STREAMFLOW

PAIRED PLOTS

Grand Mesa

April 14, 2018

McClure Pass

April 15, 2018

Park Cone

April 16, 2018

Rabbit Ears Pass

April 14, 2018

Spring Creek Pass

April 16, 2018

Wolf Creek Pass

April 16, 2018

Swamp Angel Study Plot

April 18, 2018

Berthoud Pass

April 19, 2018

Hoosier Pass

April 11, 2018

Grizzly

April 19, 2018

Willow Creek

April 19, 2018

Senator Beck Basin – April 18

The San Juan Mountains received their sixth recoded dust event of the season on April 17th This dry event was relatively minor, although it was accompanied by extremely high wind speeds (peak of 90 mph at Putney). The new dust is variable across the landscape due to these winds and significant redistribution. Sheltered areas and depressions where blowing snow tends to deposit are exhibiting the darkest dust from this event. Ski tracks, wind pillows and creeks are good spots to observe this new event. The much darker and more worrisome D3-5 layer is about 4 inches (10cm) below the surface at Swamp Angel, and is highly visible in snowpit walls. The layer is exposed on many slopes on the surrounding landscape, especially on solar aspects and wind scoured slopes. The layer has formed a stout crust, and many loose avalanches with dusty bed surfaces have been observed running on this layer. While still on the surface, the presence of D6 may accelerate the emergence of these buried layers. However, we are hopeful that this new event will be buried shortly as a closed low-pressure system moves into the region on Thursday. It is unclear if the new snow will be accompanied by additional dust, but the National Weather Service has a dust storm warning in effect for the dust source region in Northern Arizona.

On March 1st, SNOTEL station data in the San Juan region was ranked as “Low”. We are seeing “Dry” current spring precipitation conditions, and “Average” dust conditions currently exist.  USGS gauge hydrographs from four watersheds, Animas River, Dolores River, San Miguel River, and Uncompahgre River for the CODOS WY2006-2017 period of record, are collated and presented in the DERC discussion on the SBB webpage.  Below are hydrographs that pertain to “Low” March 1 SWE conditions. 

Uncompahgre near Ridgway (pdf)

San Miguel near Placerville (pdf)

Dolores River at Dolores (pdf)

Animas River at Durango (pdf)

Snow Profile at SASP on April 18, 2018.  D6 (light) is on the surface. D3-D5 is ~4" below the surface.  D2 is ~19" below the surface.  

Common scene near Red Mt Pass, Bare ground showing at all elevations, scant snow in general below 10,000'.  D2-D6 merged and at the surface at many locations.

Avalanches are running on dust layers D3-D5.  Dust, beneath the snow but close enough to the surface still absorb solar radiation, creates a stout crust layer that provides a smooth, hard bed surface for the overlying snow to run on.   

View from Swamp Angel Study Plot.  Local debris is on the surface from high winds up to 90 mph were recorded at Putney station.  You can barely see D6 on the surface in this photo.

SWE at SASP is now comparable to WY2012 amounts.  Hopfully, addition SWE will be added during the forecasted April 19-21 storm.

Park Cone – April 16

Layers D2-5 are merged on the surface. Prior to D5, D2 was extremely mild, if present at all, at Park Cone.  Given the light nature of D3/D4 at SASP, it is likely not much of these events contributed significantly to the dust seen at Park Cone.  Hence, the majority of dust from D2-D5 is primarily from D5.  However, this is where we get into the spatial variability of dust deposition in Central Colorado, through very reliable observations D2/D3 was on the surface of the snow in the Crested Butte area on April 1.  In addition, D5 was observed in vast quantities as it was being deposited in the Vail area and also after it was deposited in significant quantities in the Aspen area.  At the time of observation near Aspen on April 15, D5 was under 6-8” of snow and emerging to the surface quickly.  Judging by these and other observations (March CODOS tour etc.) the severity and extent of D2-D5 is of significant severity in the West Elk and Maroon Bells region.  

Snowpack is isothermal and rotten at Park Cone. Minor gain in snow height and moderate gain in SWE (3.2”) since the previous CODOS tour on March 16. All-layers-merged samples were taken at the pit location.

Park Cone is considered to have “Low” March 1st SWE and to be having a “Dry” spring with “Average” dust under our DERC classification. See the below DERC slideshows to find hydrographs from similar years.

Taylor River at Taylor Park (pdf)

East River at Almont (pdf)

Lake Fork at Gateway (pdf)

Looking north out over Taylor Reservoir, near Park Cone Sample location.

Dust on surface at Park Cone teeters between Min and Average, but considering dust deposition on a regional level pushes it over to the Average category.

Spring Creek – April 16

Snow is nearly gone in the area surrounding the pit location, which is currently the only patch of snow at this elevation across the landscape. SWE at the actual sample site is the same as March 16.  Snowpack is isothermal and rotten. Dust is dark and D2-5 are merged on the surface (but not as severe as Wolf Creek). All-layers-merged samples were taken at the pit location.

Apart from the forecast showing a likelihood of precipitation April 19, it is reasonable to expect Spring Creek to continue losing it’s remaining snow to runoff soon. Spring Creek is considered to have “Low” March 1st SWE and to be having a “Dry” spring with “Average” dust under our DERC classification. See the below DERC slideshows to find hydrographs from similar years:

Lake Fork at Gateview  (pdf)

Rio Grande near Del Norte  (pdf)

Spring Creek CODOS site on April 16.  Photo is looking up towards the sample location on the hillslope.

All layer are merged at Spring Creek.  Overall not nearly as severe as Swamp Angel or Wolf Creek.

Photo looking at the San Juan Mts toward Lake City.

Wolf Creek Summit – April 16

Major losses in snow height and SWE were noted since the last CODOS tour.  Oddly, or amazingly, snowdepth decreased by half since our last visit on March 16, from 4.8” to 2.4’.  And SWE has decreased from 17” to 11”.  Wolf Creek SNOTEL on the other hand, after having reached peak SWE on April 1, is the same on April 16 as it was on March 16 (19.2” of SWE). 

Dust is highly visible across landscape and in the pit. Layers D2-5 are merged and on the surface. Dust is worse at this location than any other CODOS site. Snowpack is isothermal and very wet. The ground is extremely saturated and muddy.

The snowpack is shallow for Wolf Creek, considering the warm temperatures this entire season and lack of added precipitation, the melt we have seen so far, we expect snow to continue depleting rapidly. Within our DERC classification, Wolf Creek is classified as having “Low” March 1st SWE, “Average” dust and “Dry” springtime precipitation. Please see the below hydrographs for typical runoff patterns that have transpired in similar previous seasons in our period of record:

Rio Grande near Del Norte (pdf)  

San Juan River at Pagosa Springs (pdf)

Preferential melt at Wolf Creek due to dust.

The landscape is starting to show bare ground at Wolf Creek Pass.

Wolf Creek has the worst dust conditions observed on the CODOS circuit.  D2-D5 is at the surface of the snowpack, and unless adequately buried by spring storms will accelerate snowmelt and sublimation rates (further reducing runoff).

Berthoud Summit – April 11 and April 19

The CODOS snow profiles on April 11 revealed no dust within or on the snow to the naked eye.  On April 19 we revisited the site to assess the presence of D5/D6.  After revisiting the Front Range sites it is clear that D5 for sure is a statewide event.  The dust is slightly underneath the surface or essentially on the surface around the sample area and is of significant severity.  "Significant severity", meaning the dust is obvious and pronounced in the snowpack and on the surrounding landscape and will have a controlling influence on timing of snowpack warming, melt rates, and sublimation rates.  Like all the other CODOS sites, D5 hits right near peak SWE accumulation, making it a nuisance the duration of snow melt season.     

With the presence of D5 we are tweaking our classification of dust from "Min" to "Average".  So currently, Berthoud CODOS site is classified as “Low” March 1 SWE, “Average” dust and “Wet” spring conditions.  The link below contains plausible runoff scenarios.  WY2012 offers a direct comparison to WY2018. 

• Upper Colorado Watershed – Fraser River

The snow profile at Berthoud looks much different on April 19 than it has all season.  D5 is ~ 4" below the surface and is a very obvious and will be a significant influence on snow melt once it is entirely exposed across the landscape, which will be very soon.

At Berthoud Pass dust is very noticeable in depressions and eddies of the landscape.

Grizzly Peak/Loveland Pass – April 11 and April 19

On April 11 Grizzly Peak showed very mild dust from D2-D4 and light dust on the surface from possibly local sources.  On April 19 D5 was on the surface, very dark and dirty in locations, and largely windswept.  

We now have the Grizzly CODOS site classified as “Average” March 1 SWE, “Average” dust and “Average” spring conditions, to date.  The link below contains plausible runoff scenarios based on similar hydrographs under similar conditions.  There are no direct comparisons from previous years, but ’15 and '16 offers a nearest neighbor comparison. 

• Snake River

Dust at Loveland Pass is visible in dune-like patterns.

Dust from D5 is essentially on the surface on the profile and surrounding landscape.

D5 under a surface crust at Loveland Pass

Another landscape photo from near CODOS sample site near Loveland Pass.

Hoosier Pass – April 11

Snow profile at Hoosier revealed very mild dust from D2-D4.  The site was not revisited on April 19 due to lack of daylight and an approaching storm.  Given the extent and severity of D5 across the state, including Aspen and Monarch Pass where there is moderate dust on the surface, we are assuming D5 is also present at Hoosier Pass and also of moderate severity.  

Using the DERC approach WY2018 at Hoosier Pass has unfolded with “Average” March 1st SWE, “Average” Dust intensity, to date, and overall near “Average” spring precipitation, so far.  In our March 1st Update we posted the following analysis of WY2018 that narrowed the DERC possibilities for Hoosier Pass to prior Water Years with “Average” March 1st SWE.  2010, 2012, and 2016 is a close comparison.

• Blue River & Tarryall Creek

Willow Creek – April 11 and April 19

Willow Creek revealed no observable dust on April 11.  On April 19 D5 was very apparant but slightly less intense as Berthoud.   A bit of leaching had occurred at the surface as there was no clean snow capping the dust so more melt had occurred over the last week.  Willow Creek teetered between "Min" dust and "Average" dust severity, but considering the dust observed on the landscape driving to Willow Creek - which is considerable - pushes the classification to the "Average" category.  

Under the DERC approach, WY2018 at Willow Creek Pass has unfolded with “High” March 1st SWE, “Average” Dust intensity and “Wet” spring conditions, to date.  In our March 1st Update we posted the following analysis of WY2018 that narrowed the DERC domain for Willow Creek Pass to prior water years with High March 1st SWE, WY2011, WY2014 offer the best comparison:  

•  Upper Colorado Watershed –  Colorado River

Dust visible in the foreground of the photo.  

Looking at landscape near Willow Creek sample area.

Snow pit at Willow Creek.  Dust at the surface.  More melt has been occurring at this site and a bit of leaching of dust in the wet snowpack.  

Rabbit Ears Pass – April 14

Rabbit Ears Pass has gained 15” in SWE since our March 14 visit and is also now isothermal.  Dust was 7.8” below the surface and not visible on the landscape except at lower elevations. The dust within the snow pack is dark and very visible. D5 is ~12” above D3/D4, and D3/D4 is ~20” above D2 at this site.

Rabbit Ears and Northern Colorado in general have benefited nicely from recent April storms.  This year, the Rabbit Ears SNOTEL was showing “Low” March 1st SWE under our DERC Classification framework and is currently showing “Average” dust. Precipitation wise Rabbit Ears is having a “Wet” spring. Yampa River hydrographs for other years with Low March 1st SWE are in the linked slideshow below:

• Yampa River

The Rabbit Ears dust situation taken as a whole is average.  It is one of the few areas very near average snowpack for the season.

Grand Mesa – April 14

All five of this seasons dust events have now been observed at Grand Mesa.  D3-D5 is 14” below the snow surface, and D2 is 10” below D3-D5.  Both dust layers are very evident in the snowpack and on the surface across the landscape where new snow had blown away.  Dust is also on the surface at lower elevations.  Snowpack deteriorates rapidly below 10,000 ft.  Grand Mesa CODOS sample site gained 4.2” SWE since mid-March and the snowpack is isothermal.

With five observed dust events this site is solidly within our “Average” dust realm in the DERC model. March 1st SWE was classified at “Low” and so far the site is experiencing “Dry” spring precipitation. Links to Plateau and Surface Creek below contain DERC slideshows for downstream runoff in other “Low” March 1st SWE years.

Grande Mesa Watersheds (pdf)        

Grand Mesa snow profile on April 14.  D3-D5 is ~14" below the new snow accumulation.  D2 is ~10" below D3-D5.  The cards mark the dust layers

Fresh snow overlays D3-D5 by ~14, but it is on the surface at lower elevations

McClure Pass – April 15

Our March CODOS visit to McClure Pass revealed a very dirty D2 layer, springtime conditions and isothermal snowpack. Since then, the snowpack has fully depleted.  The landscape surrounding the pass is dry. All-layers-merged samples were taken from isolated patches near the study site.  We visited McClure on April 15, one of the few isolated patches remaining in the area was located right on top of the McClure SNOTEL pillow, on that day the SNOTEL was reporting 3.6” of SWE.  Unfortunately, the picture we took of the pillow was lost. 

McClure Pass was soundly in our “Low” March 1 SWE classification under our DERC framework this year. Dust in the region is “Average” and the site (obviously) is “Dry” spring conditions. The three DERC slideshows linked below are from downstream waterways and contain hydrographs from other years with “Low” March 1st SWE.

• Gunnison Watershed – North Fork
• Gunnison Watershed – Muddy Creek
• Crystal River

Photo looking up the McClure Pass near the CODOS sample locations.

Some snow can still be seen at the very tops of the surrounding mountains near McClure.  

Weather & Climatology

The arid dust source regions of the Four Corners have been in an extreme or exceptional drought most of winter with conditions deteriorating incrementally.  Staying consistent with the forecast this entire winter, the one month regional predictions are for well-above average temperatures and below median precipitation. As spring moves forward we will be watching both the mountains and the desert for changes in dust and dust available for transport.

On April 19th a closed low pressure system will enter the Four Corners region and if forecasts hold this system will deliver moderate snowfall to the mountains, along with strong winds. Prior to reaching the San Juans the system will track through Northern Arizona, our dust source region. While the desert will see a bit of rain it appears that the precipitation there will be preceded by fierce winds, and a dust storm warning has been issued. This warning will remain active through Thursday evening. Here in the San Juans we are anticipating more dust loading to accompany this storm system, so keep an eye out for potential alerts on this event.

CODOS Update: Dust Alert D5-Major Dust Event WY2018

Greetings from Silverton,

The morning of Thursday, April 12 started off with dust storm warnings in the desert southwest.  We watched as web cameras showed the clouds and dust moving towards Colorado.  In the Four Corners region high winds and dry dusty clouds were widely reported, folks could "taste" the dust in the air and feel the dust in their eyes.  Phil Straub (CSAS employee) was at the Opus hut (San Juan Mts.) during the event and said it looked apocalyptic from about 4pm until the sun went down.  The majority of the event was deposited dry in the San Juan Mts., without precipitation, on top of dust layers D3/D4 which were already on the surface of the snowpack.  This event looks to be widespread with reliable reports describing a super dusty Vail Pass and Vail Mtn of red/brown/rust coloration.  Even reports of dust on vehicles in Boulder.  Starting around 8pm precipitation followed the dust and high winds, we received 0.5" (13 mm) of water content at Swamp Angel and snow is in the forecast the rest of today and tonight.  Currently, D3/D4/D5 are combined into one layer and sitting ~7" below the snow surface at Swamp Angel.  After the storm passes we will sample the dust at Swampy and get revealing pictures of the severity of the event.  

The CODOS team conducted a portion of the April CODOS tour on April 11.  Sites visited were on the Front Range, Hoosier, Grizzly, Berthoud, and Willow Creek Pass.  We opted to delay sampling at the rest of the CODOS sites until after this current storm passes in order to assess the range and intensity of D5.  

You can expect a full April CODOS Tour report by the first part of next week.    

More from Silverton soon.

Photo taken by Phil Straub near Opus Hut in San Juan Mts

Abajo dust camera on April 12.

Picture taken by Phil Straub

CODOS Update: Dust Alert D4, Snowpack Isothermal at SASP, Shot of Precip, USGS Plots

Greetings from Silverton,

The Senator Beck Basin (SBB) received its fourth dust event of the season this week. From Sunday evening through Monday at midnight the Basin received a long duration dry event. This event was deposited directly on D3, which was still on the snow surface. D4 was a much stronger event than D3 and the two layers combined are now very evident in the snowpack. Being on the surface, their hydrologic implications are already in play. With incoming unsettled weather, we can expect them to be buried in the next few days, although not substantially. 

CSAS will sample D3/4 today, and the merged layer will be analyzed for its composition and mass loading in the coming weeks. For now, the D4 wind rose is below and a picture of the dust and haze that composed this past event, taken on the morning Monday, April 2 from the Four Corners area.

Snowpack Conditions

Spring has sprung in the Senator Beck Basin. Yesterday, April 5th, the first isothermal snowpack temperatures of the season were recorded at Swamp Angel Study Plot (SASP). Isothermal snowpacks are 0° Celsius throughout the height of the snow, except the top 12" (30 cm) or so which is subject to diurnal temperature fluctuations.

Isothermal snowpacks are an important indication of the impending melt season, as it shows an acceleration in snowpack ripening, ripening is the process by which liquid water is introduced into the snowpack and percolates into the ground, and eventually into the waterways. It is not surprising to be finding isothermal snow at SASP given that in the past few days we have seen a slow increase in streamflow at our Senator Beck Stream Gauge (SBSG) for the first time this season.

Across the Senator Beck Basin, dust is sitting on the snowpack surface (merged layers D3 and D4) as well at 20-30 cm below the snow surface (D2). The exception is on south facing slopes, where layers D2-4 are all merged at the surface. These slopes, with their shallow snowpack and much more notable dust will melt at a faster rate than less solar aspects in the SBB and in the San Juan Mountains as a whole. Snow depth is highly variable across the region, so we can expect many slopes to melt out while others may hold snow into the early summer.

A Brief Weather Outlook

An atmospheric river event is impacting the Pacific Northwest currently and will move into the Rockies in the coming days. However, by the time the system makes it to Colorado it will be weak and scattered. We can expect intermittent and low intensity snow, although it is likely that a handful of specific areas will see notable snow totals. Because of the difficulty of predicting totals in these zonal events, the places where we might see higher snowfall totals are still a bit of a mystery.

Following the atmospheric river leftovers, the majority of Colorado can expect more of the warm and dry weather we’ve become so accustomed to. The end of next week looks windy with the possibility of a bit of precipitation. We’ll be on the lookout for snow and dust with any additional unsettled weather in the region.

The Colorado Basin River Forecast Center "Colorado Basin April Water Supply" webinar was held today, the presentation can be found at:  https://www.cbrfc.noaa.gov/present/present2018.cgi.  Encouragingly, they pointed out a couple possible active weather patterns towards mid-April that could add to the snowpack.  Not to mention providing overcast skies, cooler temperatures, and keeping dust layers buried beneath the surface for as long as possible, delaying the bulk of snowmelt until a more normal time-frame.

Please see USGS plots below. 

More from Silverton soon.

Above: Orange, hazy skies observed near the Four Corners region on April 2.  

Below:  For the stream gauges that are reporting, only a few are near median flows.  Some gauges show the spike from the wet snow and rain event in latter March.  

CODOS Update: Statewide Snow Course Plots and Trends, Brief Dust Update

Greetings from Silverton,

Dust and Snowpack Conditions:

Late in the evening on April 1 orange and hazy skies were observed in Crested Butte and Ouray.  Along with observations at SASP, D3 was also observed at the surface around the Crested Butte area.  The dust cameras in the source region showed a bit of haze as well.  Yesterday and last night we saw windy conditions and a couple inches of snow last night in the Northern San Juans.  If a small amount of additional dust came in April 1 it may be hard to decipher from D3.  A snow profile at SASP on April 1 show signs of the snowpack warming and wetting.  Streamflow at Senator Beck (stream gauge at 11,000') has kicked in a bit (stage has increased 0.10') more since April 1.  We will assess dust conditions more closely today/tomorrow and issue another update soon.  

April 1 Snow Course Plots:

Now that we have just passed into the month of April I thought it would be interesting to investigate how this season’s April 1st SWE compared within the context of long-term snow course SWE values.  And I like to remind folks whenever I get the chance of the difference between snow course data and SNOTEL data.  In Colorado, many snow courses were established in the 1930’s/40’s, a data record of ~80 years.  Snow courses are manual measurements collected with a Federal Sampler which, by weighing the Sampler containing a core from the snowpack, directly translates to inches of water in that column of snow.  Snow courses usually involve ~10-15 SWE measurements over a transect so the averaged SWE value that is reported contains at least some component of the spatial variability of the landscape.  The downside of snow courses is they require a person to take these measurements (time, money, safety, etc).  Due to lack of funding/resources at NRCS many snow courses have been “adopted” by water entities and private businesses, so instead of seeing these valuable long-term data records being abandoned, collect the data on behalf of the NRCS.   Lastly, snow course data is usually only collected at the first of the month during the spring (low temporal resolution).  Automated SNOTEL stations on the other hand report on a daily basis, so you can look at the data on the computer every morning and see how bad/good the snowpack is doing.  But SNOTEL SWE data is point data, meaning the SWE value comes from a “pillow” that essentially weighs the overlaying mass of snow (no integration of spatial variability).  SNOTEL stations collect other beneficial information like precipitation, air temperature, snow depth, wind speed/direction.  Many SNOTEL stations were established near snow course sites to correlate data records.  Now that many SNOTEL stations have been in place 30-40 years, the data seems to be used and referenced much more frequently than snow course data, but is important to consider the value of snow course data.

Above: Considering the plot "Average of 81 Snow Courses Across Colorado", WY2018 is comparable to 1966, 1981, 1999, 2004, 2012.  We are faring just very slightly better than 1977 and 2002.  Fewer snow course data comprised the averages in the 1930/40's, more snow courses were operational by the 1950's. The trend lines for the two different time periods was an arbitrary grouping, but intended to show the decline in SWE over the last ~ 30 years.  

Above:  This low snow season is hitting Southern Colorado the hardest.  WY2018 conditions are very similar to 1977 and 2002, and are slightly less than 1946, 1971, 1972, and 1999 SWE values.  Again, fewer snow course data comprised the averages in the 1930/40's, more snow courses were operational by the 1950's. The trend lines for the two different time periods was an arbitrary grouping, but intended to show the decline in SWE over the last ~ 30 years.

Above: Along with changes in SWE we see a change when peak SWE occurs by ~20 days.  Julian day 90 is April 1.  Peak SWE in the early 1980's occurred around April 10, recently it occurs around the last week of March.  

Above: This winter has been warm even based on our limited data record going back to 2005.  Periods below the mean were short lived downward spikes. 

HYDROCLIMATE TRENDS IN THE SAN JUANS

Discussing snowpack trends across the state of Colorado is a bit too much to take on in this Update.  But a couple years ago, using the San Juan Mountains as the study area, my colleague Steven Fassnacht at CSU and I did a pretty simple analysis looking at air temperature and precipitation from three long-term climate stations as well as SNOTEL and snow course data across the San Juans in Colorado and New Mexico.  Using the Regional Kendall Test for Trend we analyzed these variables for trends.  If you live in the Rio Grande Basin I recommend reading a more recent analysis “Observed Changes in Climate and Streamflow on the Upper Rio Grande Basin” by U. New Mexico researchers. 

Above: Annual precipitation shows decreasing trend of 2.6” over period of record (1931-2015) at Hermit climate station.  For the period 1980-2015 the decrease is significant. The entire decrease in precipitation is seen only during the cold season (Oct-May).  Results are similar for Telluride (significant trend) and less so for Silverton (not significant) climate stations.

Above: Average annual, minimum, and maximum air temperatures for Hermit climate station (9,000’).  Significant increase in average minimum, and average annual, temperatures.  Average maximum temperature increased but not significantly.  Approximately 1.5 degree Celsius warming in the last 35 years.  Nearby Telluride and Silverton climate stations reveal similar rising minimum temperature trends.

Above: Comparing two time periods, “early” (1982-1995) and “late” (2002-2015).  Time periods were selected arbitrarily.  April 1 SWE has decreased from the early to the later time series – significant for 2/3 of stations in study.  1982-2015 show a study region decrease of SWE of 5” for the 34 year period.  Using both SNOTEL as well as snow course data both slopes agree in the relationship between the two time series.  A similar analysis using the variable Peak SWE gave similar results.  Locations with more SWE show an increased rate of decline of SWE.

CODOS Update: Dust Alert D3, Melt Season, Atmo River Event?

Greetings from Silverton,

The Senator Beck Basin received its third dust on snow event of the season during the afternoon and evening or March 25th. D3 was a dry event (occurring without accompanying precipitation) which is currently sitting on the surface of the snowpack around Red Mountain Pass. While it appears to be a relatively light event in terms of dust loading, because it is on the surface it is a worrisome layer as we approach the melt season.

Dry DOS events tend to be patchy on a landscape scale because the dry dust on the surface is susceptible to redistribution by winds following deposition. Wet events which occur with precipitation tend to deposit dust in a more uniform layer across the landscape. It is unclear at this point how winds affected distribution of D3. What we do know is that the dust is visible and on the surface, which is always a good reason to keep close tabs on the snowpack.

Additionally, we are still unsure of how D3 was deposited on the statewide scale. During our next CODOS tour we will assess this distribution as we think about the potential impacts of dust on the melt season on the larger scale.  This week we observed D2 being a bit more severe (compared to the eastern San Juans) and mostly exposed on the Telluride, San Miguel, side of the mountain.  Currently D2 at SASP (11,000') is still ~16" below the surface, but has revealed itself more so in wind swept and shallower snowpack (lower elevation) areas.  

Below is the wind rose for D3.

Senator Beck Basin

As we move into spring CSAS will be spending far more time at our local study plots in the Senator Beck Basin. We will be digging snow pits at the Swamp Angel Study Plot weekly and at our higher elevation Senator Beck Study Plot as often as weather allows. We have also installed our stream gauge at the basin pour point for the season, and hope to capture the full seasonal flow cycle for our basin. Those data will be available on our website.

In addition to monitoring dust and SWE in our study basin we are watching closely for Isothermal snowpack temperatures, which is a clear signal of the approaching melt season. We post all of our Senator Beck Basin snow pits on our website so you can track the snowpack progress here: http://www.codos.org/sbb/#snowprofiles-sbb

Streamflow

Most of the discharge sites that we monitor have not seen notable increases in streamflow yet this spring. As we move into spring we expect to see smaller and lower elevation streams and rivers respond to snowmelt first, followed by larger and/or higher rivers which take more water input or warmer temperatures to see significant flow increases. Many rivers have just begun to be gauged for the season, so while our statewide discharge dataset remains slim it is a useful tool for us in keeping tabs on statewide snowpack from here in Silverton.

One river that has seen a spike already this season in the Crystal River, which is gauged near Redstone. This surge in flow was likely caused by a rain event which would have coincided with our Winter Storm #11 here in the Senator Beck Basin. While this was in no way a major flooding event, it is a good example of the flow regimes that we are watching for as we move into spring.

Weather Outlook

With the entirety of the Southwest United States experiencing a severe drought any precipitation we can pick up in the Four Corners region will be much appreciated. Currently there is a large scale atmospheric river event building out in the North Pacific. There is good model agreement that suggests the majority of the Pacific coast will see heavy precipitation, with Washington and Oregon currently being favored significantly. What is still unclear is how far inland the storm will continue to deliver high intensity precipitation and where that precipitation will be at its heaviest. As AR events move inland they tend to become lower in intensity and also narrower in their impact, so the regions that receive major precipitation become more specific. As the system builds and moves closer to the West Coast there will hopefully be more clarity on what we can expect here in Colorado.

As discussed in previous CODOS updates this year, long range climate models are consistently suggesting that the Southwest US will see above average temperatures and below average precipitation. This coupled with the already severe drought conditions is a worrisome set-up from a few perspectives. First of all, it looks like the low snowpack plaguing much of Colorado will not have the chance to grow significantly as sometimes happens during the spring. Also, the dry desert seems as if it will stay dry through the melt season, which has us thinking about dust. Dry soils are far more available for transport and with soil moisture in the dust source region hovering near historic lows we are heads up for any significant wind event with West or Southwest flow.

Upcoming CODOS Tour

During the early April a CSAS team will be visiting our 11 CODOS sites to assess SWE and dust conditions statewide. This will be our second CODOS tour of the season (read the report from our first tour here: http://www.codos.org/codosupdates/march172017-tgc89)

During the first CODOS tour CSAS teams consistently found low snowpack and SWE conditions as well as two distinct dust layers within the snowpack at all of our established CODOS sites. Snowpack temperatures were within normal realms for the middle of march, but with low snowpack, warm temperatures and dust in the upper layers of the snow we expect to see many sites transition into an isothermal temperature regime soon. Isothermal snowpacks are at or very near 0° Celsius throughout the entirety of their height. This means that the snowpack has begun to melt and we expect to see the SWE in those snowpacks to decline and for liquid water to become far more present within the snowpack. We will assess snowpack temperatures along with SWE and dust presence during this upcoming CODOS tour. Look for our report on that tour sometime after next weekend.

A Final Note on Dust…

While we may not have had a severe dust event in Colorado yet this year, the dust is piling up in Eastern Europe. A serious Saharan dust event turned mountains in Russia and the Caucuses a ghastly orange color. Read about that otherworldly event here: https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/03/26/596988671/clockwork-orange-why-russian-ski-slopes-are-being-blanketed-in-the-unearthly-col

Also, check out this dramatic avalanche which was initiated due to dust enhanced radiative forcing (dust lowering snow albedo and initiating a melt cycle): https://weather.com/storms/severe/video/avalanche-at-mt-elbrus-in-russia-buries-cars-in-parking-lot

That’s all for now. Check back here for more CODOS updates as spring pushes forward.

CODOS Update: SWE Plots, WY2002 Streamflow, Dust Conditions

Greetings from Silverton,

As it started raining early last night and continued throughout the evening here in Silverton (this morning it is slowly turning to wet snow) I could not avoid the feeling that spring is really trying to rush things a bit.  Add the scant snowcover and muddy streets and it definitely feels like late May and not late March.  These conditions lead me to think of snow melt and streamflow and what could unfold this runoff season.  In many areas of Colorado this snow season is being compared to the notorious low snowpack of WY2002, and indeed considering the graphs below WY2018 is tracking WY2002 snow conditions very closely.  With this shot of precipitation we are currently receiving, and a bit going into next week, it is looking like we may be slightly be above WY2002 conditions statewide by April 1.  Keeping a similar train of thought as in the March 9 CODOS Update the cumulative streamflow plots below show what unfolded in WY2002, and may give a sense of what we could see this year.  In our CODOS report last week we included a table of snowpack temperatures from our March 14-17 tour.  Results were generally comparable to the last four out of five years.  

The one-month forecast remains boring.  Colorado saw some decent storms this past week as we issued two storm reports for Senator Beck, and the 7-day outlook indicates ~1” of potential precipitation in the mountains, but the one-month outlook still calls for warms temperatures and below average chance of precipitation.  See forecast images below.  

DUST:  High winds in Utah on a couple different occasions this week had us wondering if we would see dust in the Colorado mountains.  The snowpack at SASP did not reveal any new dust and D2 is still at least 12" below surface.  We will keep an eye out and report any new developments ASAP.  It will be interesting to see how these next couple of months develop in terms of spring weather, dust conditions, and resultant streamflow.  Will we see some gains in snowpack going into April?  If spring is warm and dry, how early will snowmelt begin?  To what degree will dust conditions advance an already potentially early melt season?    

Stream gauge at Senator Beck Study Basin.  The weir is under the ice on the left hand side of photograph.  The staff gauge reads from the bottom of the weir notch.  In early winter water continued to flow, freeze and accumulate to 1.6' on the staff gauge.  We pick axed through 1' of ice to free the sensors and expose the stream underneath, which is flowing. The next step is to continue removing the ice so the sensors can be installed.  This weir has been in place for 12 years and it is possible the structure and bed have morphed, so starting this summer we will gauge the stream to check accuracy of the weir and if need be develop a new stage/discharge relationship curve.     

Streamflow timing indices were calculated based on cumulative flow from March 1 thru June 30, this time period captures the dominant snowmelt portion of the hydrograph for most rivers in Colorado.  WY2002 was compared to the median for the San Juan, Animas, Rio Grande, Taylor, and Uncompahgre rivers.  Indices calculated are Q20, Q50, and Q80, corresponding to 20%, 50%, and 80% of cumulative flow having passed the stream gauge.  These values approximate the beginning, middle, and end of the snowmelt period.  From left to right, the red and black vertical lines indicate Q20, Q50, Q80, respectively, for WY2002 (red) and the median (black)

From left to right, the red and black vertical lines indicate Q20, Q50, Q80, respectively, for WY2002 (red) and the median (black).  Compared to the median, in WY2002 snowmelt runoff began a month early, but early season melt (# days from Q20 to Q50) was longer (38 days compared to the median of 27 days).  Q50 occurred 17 days early compared to median.  And Q80 was about 12 days early.  In WY2002, Q20 to Q80 was 59 days, compared to the median of 43 days.    

Snowmelt runoff began nearly 2 months early in the Rio Grande in WY2002, like the Uncompahgre runoff took place over a longer time-frame.  Q50 was over 5 weeks earlier than the median.  The bulk of snow melt streamflow was over before the month of June.  

The San Juan was about a month early in seeing the start of snow melt runoff.  The mid-point for WY2002 occurred when median Q20 typically begins.  From Q20 to Q80 WY2002 was more compressed compared to the Rio Grande and Uncompahgre.  

For the Taylor Q20 happened 3 weeks earlier than the norm.  Q50 happened 15 days early.  And the bulk of snowmelt runoff was completed by the first week of June.  

Q20 began mid-April compared to the median of May 5.  Q50 was about 15 days early, and the bulk of snowmelt runoff was completed the first week of June compared to the norm of mid-June.  

CODOS Update March 9, 2018: Streamflow, Low Snowpack, General Thoughts

Greetings from Silverton,

Here in Senator Beck we are working to start-up our stream gage very soon if it is possible to remove the ice in the weir.  I am sure the warm temperatures predicted this month will lend a hand.  The weir is located at the pour point of our watershed at 11,000'.  Due to the low flows in the stream going into winter (low thermal mass), the lack of insulating snow, and cold evenings in early winter, the small mountain stream froze up pretty good.  Last year, the month of March was the warmest March on record (going back 123 years).  This resulted in snow at lower elevations melting and the snowpack at higher elevations warming rapidly, at SASP the snowpack reached isothermal conditions (0 degrees throughout) earlier than we have observed before (http://www.codos.org/codosupdates/mar242017).  Of course last year we had lots of snow going into March that was available for melt and by the end of March a MODIS image of snow cover looked a lot different than it did at the beginning.  This year there is no, or very little, snow at lower elevations to melt.  A record low snowpack at higher elevations, lack of storm events to-date and forecasted into the near future, and very warm temperatures dominating this entire winter season, the question is how early and fast will we see snowpack warming and subsequent melt?  Exploring this question using our somewhat limited streamflow data-set that reaches back to WY2006 is the goal of the following graphs, with possibly helping understand what might be plausible in nearby watersheds.

SBB streamflow timing indices were calculated based on cumulative flow from the start of the season (typically in March, base flow adjustments are also made) thru June 30, this time period captures the dominant snowmelt portion of our high elevation hydrograph.  Indices calculated are Q20, Q50, and Q80, corresponding to 20%, 50%, and 80% of cumulative flow having passed the stream gage.  These values have been used to approximate the beginning, middle, and end of the snowmelt period in other studies (Clowe 2010).  The plot below compares Peak SWE at SASP and the date Q20 occurred.  In general, even though dust and spring conditions can alter this assumption, a low Peak SWE equates to an early start to the snowmelt period. 

Peak SWE compared with date of Q20 (20% of spring cumulative flow has occurred).  Blue indicates a low dust year, yellow indicates a medium dust year, and red a heavy dust year.  Q50 and Q80 were also calculated (not shown), this relationship with Peak SWE breaks down as melt season progresses and spring/dust conditions dominate.   Current SWE at SASP is 12.2", if only modest gains are made over the next few weeks what could this mean in terms of snowmelt onset this melt season?  In 2002 (see image below) at Red Mt SNOTEL snow was all gone about a month earlier than the median time-frame.  

Data shows the typical number of days between Peak SWE and Q20 varies from 1-35 days.  But there are oddball years like WY2015 where it was -21 days due to snowmelt starting early but then large late season accumulation occurred.  Unfortunately WY2002 is not in our data record at SBB because it would be a very helpful comparison.  But Red Mt. SNOTEL currently shows essentially the same value at this point in 2002.  Peak SWE in 2002 was March 29.  In 2002 there was an additional ~3” gain in SWE the latter half of March.  This year, May shows a few good chances of precipitation but overall the forecast is warm with below normal precipitation.

WY2002 at Red Mt SNOTEL.  SWE amounts today are about what they were in 2002.  In 2002 an additional ~3" SWE accumulated the last two-thirds of March.  .

 Current conditions at Red Mt SNOTEL. SWE at SASP (1 mile from Red Mt) is 12.2"

Another item we will be keeping an eye on this runoff season is the relatively strong relationship between snow-all-gone at SASP and the occurrence of Q50.  So far in our POR when snow leaves the landscape at SASP (11,000’) then within 0-12 days (average of 3 days) 50% of snowmelt runoff has occurred.  It is more typical to see Q50 a couple days before SAG at SASP.  Please see plot below:

As a reminder we document melt rates, days to snow-all-gone, and other summary statistics for the SNOTEL stations that comprise our CODOS sample sites across Colorado (http://www.codos.org/sbb/#snowmelt-sbb).  This season in particular it would be worthwhile reviewing these data as a range of possibilities for your watershed of interest.  Also too, there is the DERC scenarios that were published in the May 1 Update (http://www.codos.org/codosupdates/mar12017-7pbef).

So far from indications at SASP and surrounding area, dust event D2 is still located below the snow surface and not contributing to increased warming of the snowpack.  We will issue an alert if/when this changes.  

The Colorado Basin River Forecast Center (CBRFC) held the March water supply webinar on March 7, https://www.cbrfc.noaa.gov/present/2018/cowsupmar2018.pdf.  This presentation is worth reviewing as we head into spring.  Given the weather forecast (also in the briefing), the water supply forecast is expected to trend downward.  Another good point made in the meeting is the reminder that March and the first couple weeks of April are crucial if further gains in the snowpack are going to be made.  Even though in WY2015 we experienced the “miracle May” that turned around a dismal snowpack, and May has been wetter than normal the last few years, historically the chances are not great that we are going to make up much ground. 

On the Colorado Climate's "NIDIS: Upper Colorado River Regional Drought Early Warning System" teleconference on March 6 (http://climate.colostate.edu/~drought/current_assessment.php), came reports from the north-central mountains indicating at elevations lower than the SNOTEL elevation monitoring range (few stations located below ~9,200'), less snow (and even no snow) is being observed.  Indicating that, where in the past we may have benefited from snow accumulation at these foothill elevation levels, may not be the case this year.

Also on the call came reports across Colorado from agricultural communities that the scant precipitation they might have received over the last few weeks was not retained to any degree.    Agricultural and farm communities are reporting very dry soils (dry 3' down) made even dryer by the intense high winds of late. These winds have also kicked up dust storms and dry conditions have also resulted in wild fires.  In Montezuma County in Southwest Colorado, reports of precipitation below ~9,300' is not sticking around and has/is melting, and hastened due to dust from local and regional sources accelerating melt.

More Soon

CODOS Update: Dust Alert D2 - Heavy, Widespread Event

Greetings from Silverton,

Starting Sunday evening (February 18) a disturbance entered Colorado bringing snow and sustained high winds that continued through late Monday (February 19) evening.  Average wind speeds out of the southwest were 35.8 mph with gusts up to 83 mph.  Gusts from 50-70 mph were the norm.  With the snow blowing sideways we still managed to observe 6.3" (16.1 cm) of snow accumulation and 0.6" (15 mm) of water.  Not surprisingly we observed our first significant dust storm this winter season.  This dust event (D2) is the second event of the season with D1 located at the very base of the snowpack and is very faint.  D2 was a wet event (deposited with precipitation) which is diffuse in approximately 6-8 cm of snow which fell at the onset of Winter Storm #7. The dust is barely visible in pit walls but was highly visible on the surface before it was fully buried. As the new snow continues to settle this layer should become more evident in snow pit walls. Because this event is more than a meter from the ground in the snowpack, we expect this event to have hydrologic consequences once exposed in the spring.

Starting in March the CODOS team will begin state-wide sampling tours, at which time we will ascertain the full severity and spatial extent of this event, which is likely widespread with locales like Aspen Mountain reporting dust arriving on this storm front.  Winter storm opportunities also mean dust opportunities, and the very low storm count this season in the San Juan Mountains (currently 7 storms with 14 being the average) is one of the reasons we have not received a notable dust event so far this season.  ENSO forecasts indicate that La Nina conditions are expected to decay rapidly and transition to neutral conditions during spring.  Overall however, the 90-day outlook still calls for increased chance of higher than average temperatures and decreased chance of average precipitation, with the low precipitation forecast consistent with lingering impacts of La Nina.   

Our biggest dust-on-snow months are April, March, and May (in that order).  As we head into spring, D2’s effect on the already low snowpack and the interplay of new snow and dust accumulation will have decisive effects on timing/rate/amount of snowmelt runoff.  New dust deposition remaining mostly covered with new snow accumulation will be very important in minimizing the impacts of dust until the latter part of spring and the normal snowmelt timeframe - not to mention added SWE.  The month of May has been cooler than normal for the last four years and largely wetter than normal. Hopefully that will be the case again this year.  Below is the windrose plot for the duration of dust event D2.         

Jeff Derry   

CODOS Update Feb 5, 2018: Snow School, Jan Recap, Delayed D1

Greetings from Silverton,

February is well underway and the forecast to bring us out of our drought is not showing anything encouraging or productive in the near-term particularity in southern Colorado.  The current system moving through the Central Mountains may bring 8-12" to favored locations, while the Southern Mountains may see just a few inches.  The models are trying to decide what, if any, mountain precipitation we might see this Friday - Saturday.  

The plot below shows the number of storms we have received so far this winter season (red line) at Senator Beck.  Having received only 3 Storms so far marks a new low for our period of record (a storm is defined as at least 12 mm precip with no break in precip greater than 12 hours).  This is half the number of storms we experienced this time in WY2015 which was a dry year until 5 storms during May resulted in a huge recovery.  On average for this time of year we have already received 12 winter storms.  As winter progresses our chances of receiving the amount of storms necessary to bring us closer to a more normal dry year is diminishing.  Also too, it is not uncommon for just a few, very productive storms (or lack thereof) to make or break a snow season, but nonetheless these storms if we are going to receive them, are going to need to be more and more productive as the season progresses.            

Dust Event #1: After noting an intermittent dirty basal layer in the snowpack at certain locations for a few weeks now, we decided to log Dust Event #1 (D1) as occurring on December 20.  This is the likely date where we experienced sustained high winds out of the S-SW that preceded a precipitation event arriving December 21.  This faint dust has slowly shown itself not so much at Swamp Angel but other locations as noted by CSAS staff as well as observations from Colorado Avalanche Information Center.  Even though we have added our first dust event of the season to the record books this intermittent and diffuse dust, located at the very base of the snowpack, will have zero influence on spring snowmelt.  

Snow School: This is the last notice for "Snow School for Water Professionals" being offered Feb 28 - March 2.  There are still a few seats available for this combination classroom and field learning professional development opportunity.  Don't let the low snowpack scare you away, there are many unique and informative aspects to this snow season.  Please contact Jeff Derry or see our webpage https://snowstudies.org/field-education-workshops/

January Recap:  On Friday we posted a recap of our observations at Senator Beck Study Basin.  You can view the recap along with photographs and images on our Storm Reports page:  https://snowstudies.org/winter-storm-data/.  If you would like to receive email updates when these Storm Reports are issued please let me know.  In addition to our update the below links will take you to a number of other recently released weather and water supply updates:   

http://www.weather.gov/pub/climate2018WaterYear2018Comparison

http://www.weather.gov/pub/climate2018JanuaryReviewFebruaryPreview

https://www.cbrfc.noaa.gov/wsup/pub2/discussion/current.pdf

CODOS Update Jan 2, 2018: December Recap, Snow School

Greetings from Silverton,

Happy New Year from the Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies.  We hope you had a fun and relaxing holiday season.  

Snow School for Water Professionals:  As a reminder, we are offering "Snow School for Water Professionals" again this February 28 - March 2, 2018 in Silverton, CO.  Using a mixture of classroom discussion and hands-on field sessions, this workshop is designed to enhance understanding of snowpack processes, snowpack monitoring, and snowpack data.  Please see attached flyer containing more details, and don't hesitate to contact me for more information.

December Recap:  We published a recap of December weather and conditions so far this winter  The Update can be viewed on our Storm Report page located here: https://snowstudies.org/winter-storm-data/

New Employee:  CSAS has had a new seasonal employee for the last year.  Phil Straub, is a Prescott College graduate and soon to get his M.S. degree with a dust-on-snow related thesis.  He also teaches avalanche courses for Prescott and Kachina Peaks Avalanche Center.  There may be occasions when Phil will issue a CODOS Update.  Please include Phil's email address (pstraub@snowstudies.org) to your "safe" contacts in your email settings.  We post CODOS updates to our website (http://www.codos.org/#codos) but we always issue an email notice when an update has been published.  And please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for dust-on-snow updates and general news about what we are up to.  

May your 2018 be peaceful and wet.

More Soon,

Jeff Derry   

CODOS WY2018: Snow School, DIA Exhibit, etc.

Greetings from Silverton,

After another busy summer we are looking forward to the snow season to begin, hopefully sooner than later.  At Senator Beck Study Basin we define the start of winter as having at least 50% persistent snowcover.  Once the season kicks off expect the usual CODOS Updates and Storm Report Updates.  If you or your colleagues would like to be added to either of these e-mail update subscription lists, please contact me.  Otherwise you can view the updates at our websites,  http://www.codos.org/#codos and http://www.snowstudies.org/storms.html

Snow School For Water Professionals:  Once again we are offering Snow School for Water Professionals this year from February 28 - March 2, 21018.  This combination classroom and field course will begin on Wednesday morning at our office in Silverton and end on Friday afternoon.  This class is perfect for anyone wanting to learn more about the role of snow and our mountain systems as it pertains to water resources.  Attached is a flyer, please post in your workplace and please do not hesitate to contact me with questions.    

Denver International Airport Exhibit:  Yesterday I spent the day at DIA installing four informational display cases focused on CSAS, dust-on-snow, and the science we support at Senator Beck.  This three month long display is part of the Colorado Snow & Ice Exhibit and can be seen in the walkway towards Terminal A before you get to security.  If you walk from the Main Terminal toward Terminal A, you will soon see the display cases, so even if you intend to go through the main security gate, and have time, the display is still easy to view.  As part of the DIA effort, Christi Bode with Moxicran Media, made a 2-minute promotional video.  You will soon be able to view this video on the main page of the snowstudies website.  

Upgraded Website:  Within a few days we will have a new snowstudies.org website go live.  Initially, you will see pretty much the same content but with a new flare, but we have a number of improvements and new tools in the works that I will share with you as they become available.  

More Soon,

Jeff Derry