Cooler and drier than normal conditions were experienced at Grand Lake 1 NW during March. The average high was 39.4° compared to the normal value of 43.3°. The average low was 11.9° compared to the normal monthly value of 13.4°. Extremes ranged from a high of 53° on both the 15th and 16th to a low of -13° on the 5th. Precipitation measured 0.63 inches during March which was below the normal value of 1.38 inches. There was 21.1 inches of snow recorded with a maximum snow depth of 21 inches on the 1st and 12th.

The trend of below normal temperatures and precipitation continued into the month of February at Grand Lake 1 NW. The average high for the month was 31.2° compared to the normal high of 36.0°. The average low was 0.3° compared to the normal low of 6.3°. Temperature extremes ranged from a high of 44° on the 8th to a low of -14° on the 12th, 13th and 14th. While the Grand Lake 1 NW site was one of the wetter areas in Colorado during the month of February, it was still below normal. The weather station recorded 1.12 inches of precipitation compared to the normal of 1.42 inches. There was 22.1 inches of snow during the month with a maximum snow depth of 19 inches on the 1st.

January was colder and drier than normal at Grand Lake 1 NW. The average high was 27.3° and the average low was -3.7°. Normal values are 32.4° for the high and and 4.3° for the low. Temperature extremes ranged from a high of 42° on the 24th to a low of -24° on the 15th. Precipitation for the month measured 0.82 inches which was well below the normal value of 1.52 inches. There was 16.6 inches of snow recorded for the month with a maximum snow depth of 16 inches measured on the 30th.

December 2012 was slightly cooler than normal for Grand Lake 1 NW, with the average high temperature at 29.4° compared to the normal value of 31.5°. Low temperatures averaged 5.6°, slightly above the normal of 5.1°. Extremes ranged from a high of 49° both on the 2nd and 5th, to a low of -20° on the 20th. Precipitation was below normal for the month with 1.03 inches recorded. The normal value is 1.70 inches. There was 27.3 inches of snow recorded for the month, with a maximum snow depth of 12 inches on the 18th.

Reservoirs in Summit County are at seven-year-high levels, as continued snowmelt across the Rocky Mountains along with several heavy summer rainfall events are contributing to record flow levels. Dillon Reservoir is currently one foot below capacity, and Denver Water has been bypassing inflow to the reservoir into the Blue River, slightly exceeding the capacity of that river to avoid flooding downstream of the reservoir once the reservoir reaches capacity.

Continued snowfall, contributing to record snowpacks in the Colorado Rockies for 2011, have kept several Colorado ski resorts open later, with more terrain still open for skiers to enjoy. Two ski resorts, Arapaho Basin and Loveland, are still open as of the 27th of April, with base amounts of more than 100" of snow. Despite the down economy, the amount of snow contributed to increased business for some Colorado resorts.

Read more online at: Sky-Hi Daily News