Snowpack news: Monarch Mountain nets five and a half inches of new snow #CODrought #COwx

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From The Pueblo Chieftain (Nick Bonham):

According to the NWS, the storm dropped 1 to 3 inches of snow [on Pueblo County] and even more in drifts…

In other areas of Southern Colorado: Penrose was the hardest hit in Fremont County receiving between 5 to 7 inches of snow Wednesday. In Canon City, snow fell throughout the day adding up to about 2 inches. In Custer County, snow depths ranged from 8 inches in Westcliffe and Silver Cliff to up to 18 inches in the San Isabel and other high country areas of the county. Monarch Mountain reported 5 1⁄2 inches of new snow Wednesday…

The snowstorm buried the eastern San Juan Mountains as Wolf Creek Ski Area reported 19 inches of new snow. Lesser amounts — 2 inches in Alamosa and 4 inches in Crestone — fell on the San Luis Valley floor.

From The Denver Post (Ryan Parker):

State climatologist Nolan Doesken said there will most likely be snow on the ground when Santa takes to the air. “There is continued favorable storm-tracking through the country until the end of December,” Doesken said.

“There’s another storm n sight (for Colorado) before Christmas.”

While snowpack in the state’s major watersheds is still below average, Doesken said this storm has been a major boost. As of Wednesday, the South Platte River basin was at 69 percent of average, Nolan said.

“That doesn’t sound great, but it’s up considerably from 10 days ago, when it was at 55 percent of average,” he said.

The Yampa and White river basins are at 80 percent of average, up from 50 percent 10 days ago, Doesken said.

From The Fort Morgan Times (John la Porte):

…about 2 inches of snow were recorded in Fort Morgan at the weather station at Riverview Cemetery.

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