November 14, 2016
- October saw a sharp gradient in precipitation across the region: all of Colorado, nearly all of Utah, and eastern Wyoming were much drier than normal, while far northern Utah and western Wyoming were much wetter than normal. Statewide, Colorado was in the 8th percentile for precipitation, while Utah was in the 25th percentile, and Wyoming was in the 84th percentile.
- October was unusually warm across the region, as persistent ridging kept colder air at bay. For Colorado statewide, it was the 3rd-warmest October on record (98th percentile), 5.2°F above normal, with Utah (94th percentile) and Wyoming (92nd percentile) just behind.
- Since early October, abnormally dry (D0) and moderate drought (D1) conditions have dramatically expanded in Colorado, from 24% of the state to 98% of the state, and in adjacent areas of southern Wyoming and eastern Utah. Drought conditions have eased in northwestern Wyoming.
- The very warm and dry weather has stifled the accumulation of snow in the high country, with most basins having less than 25% of median SWE for November 14, and only a few basins having more than 50% of median SWE. The regional snowpack to date is the lowest since 1999–2000, though the vast majority of seasonal snow accumulation does occur after mid-November.
- On November 10, NOAA finally hoisted a La Niña Advisory, with sea-surface temperatures and winds in the tropical Pacific indicating the presence of (weak) La Niña conditions. This La Niña event is expected to remain weak, with roughly half of the models calling for persistence of La Niña conditions through the winter.