(SOUTHERN COLORADO) — We added a lot to our snowpack in February but it is still not enough to make up our water supply deficit in Colorado.

In a report from the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), new data shows we saw a surge of snowfall for most of our mountain regions, particularly for the San Juans where in January, snowfall totals were lacking. The image below shows some mountain regions received almost a 15% gain in snowpack.

This is great news for our state, however, it is still not enough to increase our water supply. In its report published in early February, the NRCS listed that an underperforming El Niño and very dry fall in 2023 contributed to our water deficit.

To put into perspective how we think about water supply and whether we have enough, you have to think of water supply like a bank. We put deposits into the bank through precipitation events like rainfall, and especially in winter with snowpack. But dry conditions, water use, evaporation rates, and transpiration from plants, along with other factors, act like withdrawals from this bank and we can eventually end up in a deficit. So for us to have a dry fall, that can definitely lead to a deficit that snowpack alone, even a heavy amount, can not make up entirely.

The good news is we are still not done with the peak of our snow season. We typically reach our peak in the snow season in April. In addition, a heavy snowstorm is on the way for Wednesday and Thursday this week which will surely help. You can read more about it here.

The FOX21 Storm Team will be keeping tabs on the next big round of snowfall and water supply. You can follow along on the FOX21 Storm Team app. Information on how to download is below.