Mother's Day Storm Pushes Colorado Snowpack Past 100 Percent
DENVER (CBS4)- The Mother's Day snowstorm that hit Colorado put the state's snowpack well over 100 percent of normal.
Before the storm snowpack measured at 93 percent of normal on average across the state.
"Statewide totals went from 94 percent of normal on Friday to 120 percent as of today," said Snow Survey Assistant Supervisor Mage Hultstrand.
With that parts of Colorado received moisture that wasn't needed.
"We had over an inch of water added to the state," said Hultstrand.
It's that additional water that's raising concerns of how it will impact this year's flood risk.
"The stage is set for potential flooding because we do have a high snowpack and because damage to stream channels from the flooding last September," said meteorologist Chad Gimm.
The recent storm may have been more helpful than hurtful.
"We don't want to continue adding to an already large snowpack but the cooler temperatures and the additional fresh snow does delay the melt," said Hultstrand.
While the winter blast temporarily delayed the flood threat, meteorologists also warn that prolonging snowmelt in a season known for high temperatures and heavy rain can be dangerous, too.
"This time of year either of those things can happen and that's really what we're concerned about," said Gimm.