7 Things You Might Not Know About Colorado Snow

All the water that we have, and ever will have, is already on the planet. The water cycle is a massive recycling process. Here in Colorado it begins with mountain snow. Most of the water we use comes from the snowfall in the Rocky Mountains. Here are 7 things you might not know about this precious resource.

1. Colorado snow is very popular

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That’s because a lot of people depend on it. The snow that falls in the Colorado Rockies not only provides water to about 5 million Coloradans, but also to people living in 18 other states.

2. Colorado is the headwaters state.

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Colorado is the only state other than Hawaii where water ¬flows out of its borders, but doesn't ¬flow in. Water and snow in Colorado that falls on the west side of the Continental Divide has the potential of making it to the Pacific Ocean. Water on the east side could eventually flow in the Atlantic Ocean.

3. Colorado water is valuable

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Snow provides the swoosh to our skiing, and rivers give the splash to our rafting. Water keeps us alive, grows our food and keeps our landscapes healthy. We need it to run our businesses, as well as for sanitation and safety needs. The environment—wildlife, trees and plants—depends on it, too.

4. Most of our water starts out as snow

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Here in Colorado, it begins with mountain snow. Most of the water we use comes from the snowfall in the Rocky Mountains, which acts like a frozen reservoir. Fifty to 80% of the average annual precipitation in Colorado’s mountains falls as snow.

5. Colorado has very unpredictable weather

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Winter and snow can come at any time. The earliest first snow in Denver occurred on September 3 in 1961. The latest last snow date occurred on June 12, 1947.

6. Winter seems like it is always coming or going

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Snow can stay or it can go. Some high mountain locations have snow on the ground all year long. Snow on the Front Range disappears pretty fast. Did you know that Denver is the 6th sunniest major city in the United States? It gets more sun than San Diego, California and Tampa, Florida.

7. Melting snow is important

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Snowmelt in Colorado provides nearly 80% of Colorado’s surface water. Cold, high-elevation landscapes holds moisture frozen longer, usually releasing stored water in April, May, and June.

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