Western Snowpack Adds Up

As a series of storms moved through the West the last few days, more accumulations are adding to the snowpack in many of the region's mountain ranges.

As February arrived, marking the halfway point of the snowpack accumulation season most western mountain ranges are reporting average levels.

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says Colorado mountains like most of the western peaks will likely see snowpack levels increase.

Good news for spring run off though could bring hard times for some areas.

While much of Colorado was drier than average a week ago, high level precipitation has increased in recent days. The US Drought Monitor reported that drought conditions eased and receded in California and the West, down more than 3 percentage points to under 17% of Lower 48 states.

Conditions are improved over north-central and northeastern Colorado.

Only the four corners area of Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico and parts of central Oregon continue to have long term extreme drought to exceptional drought conditions persisting.