GLENWOOD SPRINGS – Coloradans are in for some big snows in late winter and early spring, one weather forecaster predicts.

Colorado long-term weather prognosticator John Henz, of HDR Engineering in Denver, gave this wet, white prediction for the remainder of the El Nino-affected winter Tuesday as part of the Colorado River Water Conservation District Board meeting. District members hungrily ate up the forecast after dealing with the driest year on record for Colorado in 2002.

“Water is on everyone’s minds and lips,” Henz said.

The prediction came as a result of different types of information including tree-ring studies, comparisons of past El Nino winters and even a look at sunspot activity.

“I’m telling you that meteorologically we’re seeing a weather change that will bode for more water, at least for this water year,” Henz said.

After looking at all these records, Henz said the snows will come back to the Western Slope sometime in mid-February and continue well into spring.

Henz said during an El Nino year in Colorado, it’s normal to get heavy early snow early in the snow season, have a dry spell in January, then receive big snow in the later part of winter and into spring. And that’s exactly what he’s calling for this year.

He predicted when all is said and done, even with the dry spell now being experienced in the Roaring Fork Valley, the snowpack will end up being 75 to 90 percent of the average.

Contact Greg Masse: 945-8515, ext. 511

gmasse@postindependent.com