Rain and Snow Provide Temporary Relief, But Wildfire Risk Remains High in Colorado
Recent rain and snow in late April and early May have brought some much-needed moisture to Colorado, particularly in the Roaring Fork River Basin. According to Erin Walter, a hydrologist with the National Weather Service in Grand Junction, this precipitation has helped raise snowpack levels slightly, pulling them out of record-low territory. However, the overall situation remains dire, with the basin still experiencing exceptional drought conditions, the highest category on the U.S. Drought Monitor. The precipitation has been slow and steady, which is beneficial for soil and vegetation, but it is not enough to offset the impacts of a climate change-driven heatwave in March that melted much of the already-low snowpack. Warm weather is expected to return next week, with temperatures forecasted to reach the 80s in Aspen and the 90s in Glenwood Springs, about 20°F (11°C) above normal.