Summit County Faces Record-Low Snowpack After Abnormally Warm December

Summit County is facing a record-low snowpack following an unusually warm December. As the new year commences, local ski areas are grappling with significantly reduced snow levels.

Unprecedented Warmth in December

December 2025 was marked by extreme temperatures across Colorado. Many regions experienced temperatures significantly above average, contributing to a lack of snow accumulation.

• Denver and Grand Junction recorded their second-hottest December on record.
• Steamboat Springs experienced its hottest December, with an average of about 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Dillon recorded the second-warmest December since 1910, averaging 28 degrees.

Impact on Snowpack Levels

This warm weather has severely impacted snowpack in Summit County, which traditionally boasts one of the deepest snow levels in Colorado. However, as of early January 2026, the area is reported to be at the zeroth percentile for snowpack—indicating the lowest level recorded since official measurements began in 1981.

Statewide, snowpack was at only 59% of the 30-year median, ranking within the fifth percentile overall. Specific river basins like the Roaring Fork and Yampa were at the third percentile, while both the Eagle River Basin and the Colorado-Kremmling to Glenwood Springs Basin recorded the worst levels on record.

Ongoing Drought Conditions

With the lack of precipitation and persistently warm weather, drought conditions are expanding across the Western Slope. Exceptional and extreme drought levels have been reported in significant portions of Eagle and Pitkin counties, with Grand County also affected.

Forecast and Potential Relief

In the upcoming week, meteorologists expect a shift in weather patterns. Cooler temperatures are projected, which could lead to increased snow activity.

• A storm system on Monday may bring a few inches of snowfall to the mountains.
• Further storms may be expected by the following Friday, though predictions about their intensity remain uncertain.

National Weather Service meteorologist Dennis Phillips indicated that this potential pattern change could offer some respite from the extreme dryness that has plagued the region.

However, long-term forecasts still suggest that temperatures may trend warmer than normal, complicating efforts to restore snowpack levels in the coming months.