Colorado Faces Record Low Snowpack Amidst Unprecedented March Heat
Colorado is experiencing its worst snowpack year in recorded history, with the water equivalent in the snowpack at only 22% of the historic median as of April 1, according to the Colorado Climate Center. This dramatic decrease is attributed to a week of record-breaking heat in March, where temperatures soared to 99°F (37°C) in Burlington, near the Kansas border. The average liquid water stored in the snow was down to 3.1 inches, significantly lower than the previous record low in 2012, which had 9.1 inches. The state climatologist, Russ Schumacher, highlights the severity of the situation, noting that the snowpack has been rapidly diminished by the intense sun over the last two weeks of March. 
