Colorado is experiencing one of its driest seasons in terms of snowpack over the last several decades, based on data from the USDA.

Currently, the statewide snowpack level is at 86 percent of what’s typical for this point in the season. While that might not sound too disheartening, this lands the season’s snowpack at the 24th percentile compared to other seasons dating back to 1987.

The last time snowpack was this low on February 4 was in 2021 and before that, 2018 – one of the state’s driest winter seasons of the last 38 years and the driest since 2002.

It’s also worth noting that not much snow is expected over the next few days, with OpenSnow reporting that the highest five-day total among the state’s ski areas is expected at Steamboat Resort at just eight inches. This will likely increase the gap between the current statewide snowpack total and the norm.

Southwest Colorado lags behind the typical snowpack for the date the most, at just 69 percent of what’s normal for February 4.

Could the state’s snowpack turn around? We’ll have to wait and see. At this point, it looks like an earlier start to fourteener hiking season may be possible.