Colorado is currently facing an environmental crisis due to record-low snowpack levels, primarily caused by an unusually warm March. The water equivalent in the snowpack has dropped to just 22% of the historical median, marking the worst snowpack year ever recorded in the state. A week-long heatwave in March, with temperatures reaching 99°F (37°C) in Burlington, accelerated snowmelt and evaporation, reducing the average liquid water stored in the snow to a mere 3.1 inches. State Climatologist Russ Schumacher emphasizes the severity of the situation, noting that intense sun has rapidly diminished the snowpack, jeopardizing water supplies for agriculture, municipalities, and ecosystems, while also increasing the risk of wildfires.