- The Four Corners states could use more precipitation according to a report from the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
The Four Corners states could use a little more bad weather. Though not expressed in those words, that is the general conclusion of the most recent water-supply forecasts by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. In Colorado, the northern mountains saw good moisture in March. But, the report continues, “Unfortunately by the time the wet weather had impacted the southern mountains it was too little, too late, and also too warm.” Although Colorado as a whole has near-normal snowpack, the combined San Miguel, Dolores, Animas, and San Juan River basin was at 81 percent of median on April 1st and received just 53 percent of average precipitation in March. The story is worse in New Mexico, where the NRCS says, “Conditions have truly unraveled over the month of March”. That state saw just 12 percent of average rainfall, and was plagued by winds that swept away precious snow. Over the past month, the statewide snowpack plummeted from 80 to 45 percent of median. In Arizona, snowpack levels are well below normal in all major basins, and March precipitation was likewise scant. Utah seems to be faring best. As of April 1st, the NRCS says, that state had “as close to an average snowpack as we may see.” After four years of drought, the report says, “average snowpack seems nice.”
