Colorado Snow Report · SNOTEL Snowpack, Snowfall & 5-Day Forecasts

May

12

2026

Snow briefing

The Colorado snowpack is monitored by the USDA NRCS SNOTEL network — automated stations sitting on the mountain that report snow depth, snow water equivalent (SWE), and air temperature every hour. Snoflo joins those live readings to a 5-day NOAA forecast for each station so you can see what's on the ground and what's coming.

Use the SNOTEL inventory below to find the closest station to where you're headed. Percent of normal tells you how today's snowpack compares to the historical average for the same date — below 70% is drought-stressed; above 130% is a fat year. Snow water content (SWC) indicates how wet and dense the snowpack is — useful for water-supply planning and avalanche stability assessment.

For backcountry travel always cross-reference with your regional avalanche center at avalanche.org.

Colorado at a glance

State-wide snowpack overview

Today's standouts across the Colorado SNOTEL network -- the deepest snowpack, coldest mountain, biggest expected snowfall, and how the state sits versus normal.

Percent of normal

32%

100% is the historical norm for today's date. Below 70% is drought-stressed; above 130% is a fat year.

Deepest snowpack

Sharkstooth 118"

vs 1" seasonal average

Coldest station

Middle Creek 37°F

Elevation 11,346 ft

Biggest 5-day forecast

Nohrsc Black Mountain 23"

Expected fresh snow over the next 5 days

Full SNOTEL inventory

Colorado snowpack monitoring sites

Every SNOTEL station Snoflo tracks in Colorado. Sortable, quickly filterable. Numeric columns heat-mapped from light to deep. Tap any station for its full history.

Snowpack monitoring site	Snowpack (in)	Snowfall (in)	Temp (°F)	% Normal	SWC (%)	Watershed	Elevation (ft)
Arapaho Ridge, Co Site 1030	20	0	59	37%	43%	Colorado Headwaters	10,960
Bear Lake, Co Site 322	3	0	66	8%	57%	Big Thompson	9,500
Berthoud Summit, Co Site 335	6	1	57	11%	48%	Clear	11,300
Bison Lake, Co Site 345	24	-1	50	39%	39%	Colorado Headwaters	10,880
Columbine Pass, Co Site 409	1	0	67	11%	·	Lower Gunnison	9,400
Columbus Basin, Co Site 904	17	1	54	36%	24%	Middle San Juan	10,785
Copper Mountain, Co Site 415	1	1	63	3%	·	Blue	10,550
Crosho, Co Site 426	1	0	70	13%	·	Upper Yampa	9,100
Cumbres Trestle, Co Site 431	2	0	59	4%	10%	Conejos	10,040
Deadman Hill, Co Site 438	3	-1	62	6%	63%	Cache La Poudre	10,220
Echo Lake, Co Site 936	2	0	62	9%	35%	Upper South Platte	10,600
Elliot Ridge, Co Site 1120	6	0	60	14%	57%	Blue	10,520
Fool Creek, Co Site 1186	17	0	60	35%	60%	Colorado Headwaters	11,150
Fremont Pass, Co Site 485	29	0	56	51%	33%	Arkansas Headwaters	11,400
Glen Cove, Co Site 1057	1	0	58	6%	70%	Fountain	11,460
Grizzly Peak, Co Site 505	7	0	58	18%	37%	Blue	11,100
Hoosier Pass, Co Site 531	5	0	54	13%	66%	Blue	11,400
Ivanhoe, Co Site 547	6	0	63	18%	57%	Roaring Fork	10,400
Joe Wright, Co Site 551	7	0	62	12%	50%	Cache La Poudre	10,120
Lake Eldora, Co Site 564	1	1	66	10%	·	St. Vrain	9,700
Lake Irene, Co Site 565	22	0	55	38%	34%	Colorado Headwaters	10,700
Lizard Head Pass, Co Site 586	1	0	66	7%	·	Upper Dolores	10,200
Long Draw Resv, Co Site 1123	2	0	61	5%	85%	Cache La Poudre	9,980
Loveland Basin, Co Site 602	34	0	54	60%	38%	Clear	11,400
Middle Creek, Co Site 624	2	0	62	7%	90%	Rio Grande Headwaters	11,250
Molas Lake, Co Site 632	1	0	65	6%	·	Animas	10,500
Moon Pass, Co Site 1124	1	1	63	36%	·	Saguache	11,140
Never Summer, Co Site 1031	32	0	58	58%	43%	North Platte Headwaters	10,280
Niwot, Co Site 663	1	0	64	4%	90%	St. Vrain	9,910
Overland Res., Co Site 675	1	1	59	7%	·	North Fork Gunnison	9,840
Park Reservoir, Co Site 682	27	1	62	49%	39%	Lower Gunnison	9,960
Porphyry Creek, Co Site 701	1	0	55	4%	·	Tomichi	10,760
Rawah, Co Site 1032	1	0	67	7%	·	North Platte Headwaters	9,020
Red Mountain Pass, Co Site 713	6	0	64	12%	43%	Animas	11,200
Ripple Creek, Co Site 717	20	-1	62	34%	49%	Upper Yampa	10,340
Sawtooth , Co Site 1251	22	0	65	41%	46%	St. Vrain	9,620
Schofield Pass, Co Site 737	8	0	52	14%	71%	Roaring Fork	10,700
Sharkstooth, Co Site 1060	2	0	62	7%	·	Upper Dolores	10,720
Stillwater Creek, Co Site 793	2	2	61	0%	5%	Colorado Headwaters	8,720
Tower, Co Site 825	63	1	61	61%	43%	North Platte Headwaters	10,500
Trinchera, Co Site 829	1	1	59	11%	·	Alamosa-Trinchera	10,860
University Camp, Co Site 838	27	-1	64	53%	38%	St. Vrain	10,300
Ute Creek, Co Site 1005	2	-1	61	14%	5%	Alamosa-Trinchera	10,650
Vallecito, Co Site 843	8	2	61	50%	1%	Upper San Juan	10,880
Wager Gulch, Co Site 1188	2	0	62	25%	5%	Upper Gunnison	11,100
Weminuche Creek, Co Site 1160	2	0	62	9%	·	Piedra	10,740
Wild Basin, Co Site 1042	16	1	69	49%	29%	St. Vrain	9,560
Willow Creek Pass, Co Site 869	19	0	65	38%	39%	Colorado Headwaters	9,540
Willow Park, Co Site 870	8	0	59	17%	41%	Big Thompson	10,700
Wolf Creek Summit, Co Site 874	24	0	59	44%	45%	Rio Grande Headwaters	11,000
Zirkel, Co Site 1033	1	1	63	3%	30%	North Platte Headwaters	9,340
Nohrsc Arapaho Ridge, Co Site ARPC2	18	-2	63	43%	41%	Colorado Headwaters	11,001
Bison Lake, Co Site BLSC2	21	-1	60	21%	41%	Colorado Headwaters	10,952
Nohrsc Battle Mountain, Co Site BTLW4	2	1	78	%	5%	Little Snake	7,501
Berthoud Summit, Co Site BTSC2	1	-3	57	10%	130%	Clear	11,332
Castle Peak, Co Site CAPC2	34	-1	58	75%	43%	Roaring Fork	11,539
Nohrsc Columbine, Co Site COLC2	1	-1	66	3%	·	North Platte Headwaters	9,151
Nohrsc Columbine Pass, Co Site CPSC2	1	0	73	%	·	Lower Gunnison	9,174
Nohrsc Cumbres Trestle, Co Site CUMC2	1	0	71	6%	20%	Conejos	10,017
Nohrsc Cochetopa Pass, Co Site CZSC2	1	0	71	37%	20%	Saguache	10,066
Deadman Hill, Co Site DDMC2	1	-4	63	8%	80%	Cache La Poudre	10,266
Nohrsc Echo Lake, Co Site ECLC2	2	-1	62	4%	35%	Upper South Platte	10,667
Elliot Ridge Snotel, Co Site ELRC2	2	-4	63	13%	80%	Blue	10,585
Nohrsc Fool Creek, Co Site FCVC2	13	-4	63	26%	72%	Colorado Headwaters	11,165
Fremont Pass, Co Site FMTC2	27	-1	60	48%	35%	Arkansas Headwaters	11,270
Nohrsc Glen Cove, Co Site GLNC2	2	0	60	8%	15%	Fountain	11,464
Nohrsc Grizzly Peak, Co Site GZPC2	4	-4	64	17%	35%	Blue	11,165
High Lonesome, Co Site HLNC2	4	-3	66	17%	45%	Colorado Headwaters	10,660
Nohrsc Hoosier Pass, Co Site HOOC2	2	-2	66	16%	105%	South Platte Headwaters	11,605
Nohrsc Ivanhoe, Co Site IVHC2	3	-3	67	25%	97%	Roaring Fork	10,545
Nohrsc Jackwhacker Gulch, Co Site JWGC2	1	0	62	7%	10%	Upper South Platte	11,414
Nohrsc Joe Wright, Co Site JWRC2	7	-2	66	20%	39%	Cache La Poudre	10,224
Nohrsc Loveland Basin, Co Site LBAC2	32	-2	55	67%	38%	Clear	11,470
Lizard Head Pass, Co Site LIZC2	1	0	70	4%	·	Upper Dolores	10,220
Nohrsc Lake Irene, Co Site LKIC2	19	-2	57	45%	32%	Colorado Headwaters	10,686
Nohrsc Lone Cone, Co Site LNCC2	2	0	76	200%	5%	San Miguel	9,748
Nohrsc Long Draw Resvr Snotel, Co Site LRVC2	1	-1	63	9%	90%	Cache La Poudre	10,027
Nohrsc Mccoy Park, Co Site MCYC2	1	0	79	12%	10%	Eagle	9,492
Middle Creek, Co Site MDLC2	2	0	60	9%	55%	Rio Grande Headwaters	11,346
Nohrsc Medano Pass, Co Site MDPC2	1	-1	72	28%	·	San Luis	9,699
Nohrsc Mesa Lakes, Co Site MESC2	1	0	67	12%	10%	Colorado Headwaters-Plateau	10,161
Nohrsc Molas Lake, Co Site MLSC2	1	0	68	3%	·	Animas	10,663
Nohrsc Never Summer, Co Site NEVC2	31	-1	61	65%	42%	North Platte Headwaters	10,306
Nohrsc Overland Res., Co Site OVRC2	1	-1	67	%	·	North Fork Gunnison	9,942
Nohrsc Park Cone, Co Site PKCC2	1	0	74	0%	10%	East-Taylor	9,627
Park Reservoir, Co Site PRVC2	24	-3	67	23%	41%	Lower Gunnison	9,948
Rawah, Co Site RAWC2	1	0	71	72%	10%	North Platte Headwaters	9,063
Nohrsc Ripple Creek, Co Site RCPC2	18	-4	66	75%	47%	Upper White	10,348
Nohrsc Red Mountain Pass, Co Site RMPC2	3	-3	67	27%	47%	Animas	11,090
Nohrsc Rough And Tumble, Co Site ROUC2	1	0	64	72%	20%	South Platte Headwaters	10,306
Nohrsc Sawtooth, Co Site SATC2	21	-1	65	57%	49%	St. Vrain	9,663
Nohrsc Stillwater Creek, Co Site SCSC2	1	0	68	%	10%	Colorado Headwaters	8,790
Nohrsc South Colony, Co Site SCYC2	1	0	59	32%	40%	Arkansas Headwaters	10,981
Nohrsc Slumgullion, Co Site SLMC2	1	0	58	23%	·	Upper Gunnison	11,559
Nohrsc Schofield Pass, Co Site SOSC2	8	-4	52	35%	70%	Roaring Fork	10,712
Nohrsc Trinchera, Co Site TCHC2	1	0	61	42%	10%	Alamosa-Trinchera	10,873
Trapper Lake, Co Site TLSC2	1	0	64	%	10%	Upper White	9,761
Tower, Co Site TOWC2	63	-4	58	88%	43%	North Platte Headwaters	10,644
Upper San Juan, Co Site USJC2	1	0	64	84%	10%	Upper San Juan	10,158
Nohrsc Ute Creek, Co Site UTCC2	3	0	58	150%	3%	Alamosa-Trinchera	10,752
Nohrsc University Camp, Co Site UVCC2	28	-1	64	70%	37%	St. Vrain	10,362
Nohrsc Vallecito, Co Site VALC2	7	0	61	145%	1%	Upper San Juan	10,732
Wolf Creek Snotel, Co Site WCSC2	24	-2	59	99%	45%	Rio Grande Headwaters	11,031
Nohrsc Wild Basin, Co Site WLBC2	14	0	63	47%	33%	St. Vrain	9,437
Nohrsc Willow Creek Pass, Co Site WLLC2	19	-1	65	54%	38%	Colorado Headwaters	9,597
Nohrsc Weminuche Creek, Co Site WMNC2	2	0	63	125%	·	Piedra	10,693
Nohrsc Willow Park, Co Site WPRC2	8	-3	59	28%	41%	Big Thompson	10,726
Nohrsc Wager Gulch, Co Site WRGC2	1	0	62	84%	10%	Upper Gunnison	11,188
Nohrsc Zirkel, Co Site ZIRC2	1	0	63	5%	30%	North Platte Headwaters	9,364

15-day outlook

Colorado ski-area meteograms

Per-resort interactive weather forecasts for the next 15 days — temperature curve, precipitation bars, weather symbols, and humidity at every Colorado ski area Snoflo tracks.

Snow report FAQ

About Colorado snowpack

Where does the Colorado snowpack data come from?

The USDA NRCS SNOTEL network (SNOpack TELemetry) -- automated mountain stations that continuously measure snow depth, snow water equivalent, precipitation, and air temperature. Snoflo aggregates the live readings and joins them to a 5-day NOAA forecast for each station.

What is Snow Water Equivalent (SWE)?

The depth of water you'd get if you melted the entire snowpack. A 30-inch snowpack with 8 inches of SWE is wetter and denser than one with 5 inches -- useful for water-supply forecasting and avalanche assessment. The "SWC %" column shows the ratio.

What does Percent Normal mean?

Current snowpack as a percentage of the historical average for the same date at that station. 100% is right at the historical norm. Below 70% indicates drought-stressed snowpack; above 130% is a fat year.

How fresh is the Colorado data?

SNOTEL stations transmit hourly; Snoflo re-pulls throughout the day. The 5-day forecasts regenerate from NOAA NOHRSC analysis fields and NWS forecast guidance.

Why are SNOTEL stations only in some states?

The NRCS SNOTEL network is concentrated in the western mountain U.S. -- where the snowpack drives federal water supply forecasts for irrigation, hydropower, and municipal water. Eastern snowpack is measured by other networks (CoCoRaHS, NWS) which Snoflo includes elsewhere.

Is this a substitute for the local avalanche center?

No. For backcountry travel always consult your regional avalanche forecast at avalanche.org. Snoflo is informational data only.

Colorado snowpack