277
FGUS64 KTUA 071409
ESPCO

Water Supply Outlook                                           April 7, 2025


ABRFC uses the 1991-2020 AVERAGE runoff volume as our Normal at each point.

Snowfall across the Upper Arkansas River Basin was near normal during March. The
Sangre De Cristo Mountains in Southern Colorado and the Canadian River Basin in New
Mexico saw below normal snowfall in March. At the end of March, snowpack conditions
were near normal along the upper reaches of the Arkansas River, but significantly
below normal across Southern Colorado. The snowpack is also extremely low in the
Canadian Basin in New Mexico.

Seasonal runoff (April-September) is forecast to be 90 percent-of-average for the
Arkansas River at Salida and 87 percent-of-average below Pueblo Reservoir. Runoff
from Grape Creek, the Cucharas River and the Huerfano River is forecast to be 34,
65, and 54 percent-of-average, respectively. Chalk Creek is forecast to provide
80 percent-of-average runoff.  Runoff from the Purgatoire River is forecast to
be 62 percent-of-average.

In New Mexico, seasonal runoff (March-June) from Rayado and Ponil Creeks is
forecast to be 30 and 33 percent-of-average, respectively. The Vermejo and
Cimarron Rivers are forecast to be 33 and 19 percent-of-average, respectively.

Water-year-to-date precipitation (October-March) in the mountain headwaters
of Colorado is near median, overall. Reports range from 68 percent-of-median at
South Colony to 124 percent-of-median at Porphyry Creek. Snowpack above Salida, as
measured by (NRCS) SNOTEL sites, is near normal at 88 percent-of-median. Snowpack
in the Cucharas and Huerfano basins is 26 percent-of-median. In the Purgatoire River
basin, the snowpack is at 31 percent-of-median.

New Mexico`s water-year-to-date precipitation is near normal. Reports range from
80 percent-of-median at Palo to 98 percent-of-median at Tolby. Unfortunately, the
snowpack in the Canadian River basin is well below normal at 2 percent-of-median.

Reservoir storage in the Arkansas River system is 110 percent-of-median above
Pueblo Reservoir and 86 percent-of-median below the reservoir.  The upper reservoirs
are at 102 percent of last year`s total. The lower reservoirs are at 93 percent of
last year`s total.

The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) issues three-month temperature and precipitation
outlooks for the nation. The outlook for April through June calls for slightly
increased chances of above normal temperatures in Colorado and New Mexico.
The CPC outlook also calls for increased chances for below normal precipitation
across Colorado and especially in New Mexico.


  ******************************************************
  *       *
  *   This, and additional Water Supply Information,   *
  *       can be found on our Web Page at:       *
  *       *
  *         www.weather.gov/abrfc/water_supply         *
  *       *
  ******************************************************

$$