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<br />Forecasted Weather - The short term forecast called for a significant winter storm to develop <br />along the front range the evening of February 28 and continuing into March 1. This storm was <br />expected to deliver heavy snow across northern Colorado and very cold temperatures, but <br />unfortunately not benefit the mountains. Temperatures should warm again early next week with <br />another system expected to clip the northern mountains next week. More spring-like moisture <br />and clouds are being observed in the Pacific. Long term - Experimental forecasts for March <br />shows potential for wetter than average conditions. The long term outlook for April through <br />June does not show any significant chance for above normal precipitation. Temperatures in this <br />time frame are predicted to be above average, particularly in southwest Colorado. There are EL <br />Nino conditions developing in the Pacific Ocean, with most models predicting at least mild to <br />growing El Nino conditions for the next six months. The anticipated "Pineapple Express" went <br />south into Mexico and is not expected to return with moisture for Colorado this winter. <br />Forecast details can be found at h(tp:/iwww.cdc.nolW.gov!-kew!CO.predictionsIFEB.html. <br /> <br />Other Data - The U.S. Drought Monitor map (as of February 26) shows most all of Colorado <br />now in the 'Moderate drought' category, the exception being the eastern plains in the <br />'abnormally dry' category. Ongoing drought is affecting all of the Rocky Mountain states as <br />well as Arizona, Texas and the East Coast. <br /> <br />2. Droue:ht ImDactsl Areas of Concern <br /> <br />So far Colorado is drier this winter than it has been the past two years, which were both dry <br />winters. The snowpack is consistently low in all basins statewide. This has not been seen <br />since 1981, which was the last severe and widespread drought to affect Colorado. It is not <br />impossible to recover the precipitation deficits, but it is becoming less and less likely. Southeast <br />and southwest Colorado are the areas of most concern at this time. <br /> <br />Thus far the impacts have been minor due to low water demand during the winter. The <br />following are the anticipated impacts unless we get a lot of snow and rain in the next few <br />months. Agriculture, particularly rangeland and dry land farming, will suffer this year as well as <br />recreational opportunities dependent on good strearnflows. Additional moisture this year will <br />likely not benefit grasslands until 2003. BLM and USFS offices are waming rangeland users <br />about upcoming grazing restrictions on federal lands. Most junior water users should expect to <br />see cut-offs in the coming water demand season. We could be looking at an "active" fire season. <br />The bright spot is that municipal supplies are generally in good shape. Communities that depend <br />on strearnflows or shallow aquifers might experience shortages similar to those experienced in <br />2000. <br />