January's Colorado River basin snowpack is about normal, but without a snowy late winter, Arizona will likely see sustained water cuts on the river.

Snowpack across Colorado ranges from near the norm near the Colorado River headwaters to troublingly low along the southern border as the West contends with drought.

Currently, snowpack is at 80% of normal in the Upper Colorado River Basin, according to data compiled by the Bureau of Land Management.

The Arkansas River basin’s current snowpack levels, 84% of the seasonal average between 1991-2020, are lower than Colorado’s other river basins and the statewide average of 132%.

On the maps, Colorado is divided into eight different river systems. In each system, the whole basin is shaded in with a color and assigned a percentage even though the snowpack is only measured ...

Apr. 8—Heavy snowfall descended on Berthoud Pass in March as Brian Domonkos explained how scientists quantify the bountiful snowpack in some areas on the Colorado River Basin that could fend off ...

The Colorado River drainage basin is made up of seven states and spreads for about 246,000 square miles.

Recently, active weather has bolstered the snowpack and the basin is now hitting about 93% of average snow depth. At the beginning of 2024, the level was at just 62% of average.

Rockies snowpack season for Colorado River basin off to rocky start Covered with freshly fallen snow, the Rocky Mountains rise above central Colorado on Dec. 17, 2019. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) ...

The Upper and Lower basin states are split on a long-term plan to manage Lake Powell and Lake Mead, but meetings between the two sides are expected to pick up this month.