Spring 2011 Runoff Update | May 25, 2011
Author: Trout's Staff
This Spring is continuing to be as unpredictable as anything we have seen in decades. With rain and snow falling in the high country all week, and cooler temperatures throughout most of the state, our Spring 2011 runoff hasn't even begun. This is particularly alarming when you see the snowpack 
totals for much of the state. We're talking anywhere from 150% to 200% + of our historical snow pack averages in Colorado mountain ranges. And with May nearly over, we're running out of time to get rid of this massive amount of snow. The ten day forecast for most of Colorado is going to be a bit warmer then we've seen the past week, but there is still a continued possibility of rain in the mountain valleys, and snow at higher elevations.
We've been fielding a lot of calls and questions in the shop about when runoff will begin and end. Unfortunately our crystal ball is in for repairs, but our gut instinct is telling us this: first, we need warmer weather for runoff to even begin. And second, that once it does, we all need to keep our fingers crossed that we don't see excessively warm weather in the higher elevations.
