Does six inches of snow really constitute ‘news’ during the winter season in Colorado? On a year like this, yes… yes, it does – especially when it comes as a pleasant surprise.

As of February 4, Colorado’s snowpack is at just 55 percent of the norm for the date – this sets a record low for the 23rd day in a row. Based on Monday forecasts, this week was supposed to be another mostly dry one, too. That said, weather conditions catered to some fresh snow as an unexpected storm rolled through.

Over the last 24 hours, Loveland Ski Area got about six inches of fresh snow – the only fresh snow they’ve gotten over the last seven days, bringing their season total up to 98 inches.

Meanwhile, Arapahoe Basin reports three inches over the last 24 hours, along with Breckenridge. Copper Mountain, Eldora, Keystone, and Winter Park are reporting two.

Fresh snow thus far this month is still in the single-digits at all Colorado ski areas, but hey, six inches of fresh snow is enough for a decent little powder day – and at the least, it’s a good refill that should improve conditions a bit until the next storm rolls through mid-month.

Looking ahead, OpenSnow is calling for no snow at all but one Colorado ski areas over the next five days (Sunlight in Glenwood Springs is the lone exception, with the possibility of an inch). According to Pivotal Weather, however, more snow should start falling on February 10. Mapping from Pivotal Weather shows that totals of up to 24 inches could land in some parts of the state through February 18. It’s also worth noting that this snow should favor the heart of ski country – peaks around Vail and Aspen, while also bringing good totals to those in the southwest and Steamboat Springs.

Will this incoming snow be enough to pull Colorado above all-time lows in terms of snowpack? Probably not. February tends to be a very snowy month, and 20-something inches is hardly notable from the historical standpoint. Maybe the state will get lucky with a string of late-month storms, but with outlooks showing warmer-than-normal and drier-than-normal conditions are likely for much of the state from March through May, this writer is thinking this snow season could bring the state’s lowest peak snowpack on record.

STAY INFORMED: Get free Colorado news with our daily newsletter (Click here)