It’s December, it’s snowing in Denver and records are falling
This prolonged dry period has an impact on the state’s prolonged drought, dwindling water supplies and a population that wants to climb steeply.
“Everywhere across the state is experiencing some sort of drought conditions,” Ayesha Wilkinson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, told CNN. For example, “Denver just recorded their second-least snowy November”, no measurable amount of snow was observed – meaning they had some snowfall, but nothing accumulated. This November is second only to 1949 when “not a single piece fell from the sky” literally.
Colorado also seems to represent the rest of the country, with the onset of meteorological winter on December 1, and only 11.1% of the United States is covered with snow.
Ski resorts closed on opening day
Ski resorts have had to make artificial snow to cover the shortfall and help skiers get back to the mountains safely. The weather hasn’t really played the ball yet, though.
“Normally at this time of year we’re about to hit 300 hours of snow, and this year we’re just over 100,” explains Loryn Duke, Steamboat Ski Resort communications director. “And those 100 hours just happened last week. Our snowmakers are literally filling Mother Nature.”
“We have all the tools in our kit to support Mother Nature and once Mother Nature arrives, we are ready to welcome her,” Duke said.
Droughts Get Worse Across Colorado
Colorado’s specific drought situation is getting worse once again. After some brief improvement in the spring and summer, the statewide rate of moderate dryness was 77% last week and now stands at 88%, with no rain in the forecast until next week.
Wilkinson told CNN it was “the 3rd warmest November on record”. The heat wave continued into December when record highs were again challenged, coupled with below-average rainfall, consistent with the ongoing drought. “So far, Denver has only received 12.37 inches of liquid precipitation when we would normally have 14.14 inches,” explains Wilkinson.
Winter conditions can make a comeback
Just because winter is off to a slow start, doesn’t mean the rest of winter will catch up. December has historically been known to produce some heavy snowfall in Denver, with an average of 8 inches for the month. This often equates to the foothills of snow in the mountains, where skiers greet it with open arms.