HydroStatus

Upper Colorado snowpack › Gunnison

Gunnison basin snowpack

11 SNOTEL stations in the Gunnison subregion of the Upper Colorado River Basin. As of Oct 29, 2026, day 29 of water year 2027.

Snow water equivalent
213%
of the 1991–2020 median for this date · 144% of average
Basin-average SWE
1.02 in
median 0.48 in · average 0.71 in
Water-year precipitation
265%
of average since Oct 1 · 6.06 in vs. 2.29 in
Toward the normal peak
7%
of the average peak, 15.15 in around Apr 3
Stations reporting
11 of 11
average elevation 10,140 ft

This water year against the normals

Water year 2027Water year 20261991–2020 median1991–2020 average
0 5 10 15 OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSep normal peak, Apr 3
Basin-average snow water equivalent in inches for every station reporting each day (11 stations this year), against the 1991–2020 median and average of the same stations.

Every station in the basin

StationElev (ft)SWEMedian% med Avg% avgPrecip% avgNormal peakAs of
Butte CO 10,190 0.4 0.2 200% 0.5 80% 3.4 189% 14.6 · Apr 6 2026-10-29
Columbine Pass CO 9,160 0.9 0 — 0.4 225% 8.8 383% 17 · Mar 14 2026-10-29
Idarado CO 9,780 0.2 0.1 200% 0.4 50% 7.8 289% 13.3 · Mar 30 2026-10-29
Mc Clure Pass CO 8,760 0.2 0.2 100% 0.6 33% — — 16.6 · Mar 29 2026-10-29
Overland Res. CO 9,890 0.1 0.3 33% 0.5 20% 5.5 229% 12 · Mar 29 2026-10-29
Park Cone CO 9,600 0.7 0.3 233% 0.4 175% 3.4 227% 10.7 · Apr 3 2026-10-29
Park Reservoir CO 9,990 1.6 1.4 114% 1.6 100% 11.6 322% 26.9 · Apr 24 2026-10-29
Porphyry Creek CO 10,790 1 0.7 143% 0.8 125% 3 177% 15.6 · Apr 3 2026-10-29
Slumgullion CO 11,560 4.2 1.3 323% 1.5 280% 6.7 305% 14.2 · Apr 9 2026-10-29
Upper Taylor CO 10,710 0.9 0.3 300% 0.4 225% 4.3 179% 13.8 · Mar 27 2026-10-29
Wager Gulch CO 11,110 2.3 — — — — 7.7 — — · Oct 1 2026-10-29

Snow water equivalent and precipitation in inches. Greyed rows have not reported in the last 3 days and are left out of the basin figures. A dash means the normal for this date is zero.

Snow water equivalent, percent of 1991–2020 median: under 50%50–90%90–110%110–150%over 150% median is zero today not reporting

Water-year precipitation

Water year 2027Water year 20261991–2020 average
0 10 20 30 OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSep
Basin-average precipitation accumulated since October 1, in inches, against the 1991–2020 average.

Peak snowpack by water year

Since 1981 the Gunnison basin-average snowpack has peaked as high as 26.08 in (Apr 18, 1993) and as low as 7.96 in (Mar 8, 2026). The 1991–2020 average peak is 15.15 in around Apr 3.

Water yearPeak SWE (in)Peak date% of normal peakApril 1 SWE (in)Stations
2027 (to date) 1.21 Oct 25 8% — 11
2026 7.96 Mar 8 53% 2.84 11
2025 12.75 Mar 22 84% 11.42 11
2024 15.22 Apr 8 101% 15.09 11
2023 24.42 Apr 6 161% 24.14 11
2022 14.55 Mar 23 96% 14.51 11
2021 12.9 Mar 28 85% 12.62 11
2020 14.06 Apr 4 93% 13.87 11
2019 21.65 Apr 4 143% 21.53 11
2018 8.59 Mar 28 57% 8.15 11
2017 19 Mar 9 125% 17.52 11
2016 14.17 Apr 1 94% 14.17 11
2015 11.19 Mar 6 74% 8.72 11
2014 15.88 Apr 7 105% 15.42 11
2013 11.15 Apr 20 74% 9.58 11
2012 11.19 Mar 21 74% 8.14 11
2011 20.09 May 2 133% 19.33 11
2010 17.31 Apr 7 114% 16.35 10
2009 18.22 Apr 17 120% 16.44 10
2008 23.37 Apr 12 154% 21.62 9
2007 12.29 Mar 11 81% 11.68 9
2006 16.83 Apr 7 111% 16.1 9
2005 22.94 Apr 11 151% 22.6 9
2004 14 Mar 7 92% 11.18 9
2003 14.91 Apr 8 98% 14.43 9
2002 9.5 Mar 26 63% 8.41 9
2001 14.16 Apr 13 94% 12.49 9
2000 15.19 Apr 3 100% 15.03 9
1999 14.44 May 5 95% 11 9
1998 18.76 Apr 18 124% 16.13 9
1997 22.62 Apr 13 149% 20.59 9
1996 16.72 Mar 26 110% 16.16 9
1995 23.09 May 13 152% 20.28 9
1994 14.36 Apr 11 95% 12.47 9
1993 26.08 Apr 18 172% 23.69 9
1992 14.81 Mar 31 98% 14.78 9
1991 15.42 Apr 3 102% 15.31 9
1990 9.94 Apr 9 66% 9.64 9
1989 15.46 Apr 3 102% 14.85 9
1988 13.21 Mar 20 87% 12.82 8
1987 18.69 Apr 13 123% 17.96 8
1986 19.5 Apr 3 129% 18.66 8
1985 19.74 Apr 4 130% 19.61 7
1984 25.29 May 6 167% 22.54 7
1983 21.46 May 2 142% 19.07 7
1982 21.26 Apr 11 140% 20.76 7
1981 11.01 Apr 7 73% 10.27 7

Peak of the basin-average daily SWE over the stations with data that year; the station count shows how the set has grown. Data: NRCS AWDB, nightly; current-year values are provisional. Other basins: Colorado Headwaters · Duchesne-Lower Green · Upper Green · San Juan · Yampa-White · Dolores-San Miguel · Dirty Devil-Fremont.