Snowpack Threatens San Juans With Flooding
The snow and rain we have received seem to be both a blessing and a potential curse.
According to the National Weather Service in Boulder, the snowpack in the San Juans is almost 728% above normal. What is called the Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) was at 20.5 inches of water in April and has reduced only a few inches since.
The thought of flooding should be on the minds of most people who live in the area, but flooding is not assured, according to experts. The SWE is over three times higher than normal in years past, those types of levels have resulted in flooding, some dangerously.
The concern of forecasters about flooding comes with good reason. In 1995 the SWE was 514% and 499% in 2011 when flooding caused damage and loss of life in Colorado.
While the levels are concerning to be sure, there is no guarantee of flooding in these areas, but with snowpack the way it is, and with more rain seemingly every day, it makes sense to be cautious and plans just in case.