Colorado River Basin reservoirs face low spring snowmelt due to dry soil and poor weather conditions.

Despite a season of average snowfall, major reservoirs on the Colorado River Basin are unlikely to receive significant spring snowmelt due to dry soil soaking up water that would otherwise flow to storage facilities. The projections are attributed to factors such as a drier-than-average El Niño winter, a poor monsoon season across the Southwest, and existing dry soil conditions. John Meyer, assistant state climatologist at the Utah Climate Center, outlined the expected runoff conditions at an event by NOAA and the National Integrated Drought Information System.