Precipitation
Highlights:
- Precipitation patterns are a factor in the reservoir’s water quality due to impacts on inflows, water temperature, exchange rates, and overall reservoir dynamics.
- The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at Centennial Airport Station (KAPA) weather station (NCDC) received close to average annual precipitation during WY 2025 (92%) with lower-than-average precipitation during the warmest summer months of June-August.
- The Cherry Ck MET Station/MHFD 10091 (CCSP) is used to measure precipitation on the reservoir surface due to the closer proximity.
- The Cherry Creek watershed received an average of 155% of the 30-year PRISM average (1991-2020), while areas around the reservoir generally received less precipitation than the rest of the watershed.
The CCSP MET Station (MHFD 10091) went online in 2022 to more accurately capture localized precipitation impacts and for reservoir water balance calculations. Although winter and spring had near average precipitation, June, July, and August were well below the historical monthly average. In WY 2025 the Cherry Creek State Park (CCSP) station received (11.6 inches) which was lower than the NOAA station receiving 92% of the historical average (14 inches).
Total WY 2025 precipitation at the KAPA station was lower than at the CCSP meteorological station. Total precipitation at the CCSP meteorological station was higher than the KAPA site in April but was lower in May, which helps demonstrate the spatial variability of storms in the watershed.
More weather station details, including weekly and monthly rolling averages and cumulative values for selected dates can be found on the CCBWQA Portal Precipitation Investigation Tool.
Precipitation also varied across the watershed and ranged from approximately 108% to 184% of the 30-year (1991-2020) PRISM average precipitation data generated by NOAA/National Weather Service. The watershed as a whole received approximately 155% of the 30-year average, while areas just around Cherry Creek Reservoir generally received less precipitation than the rest of the watershed.
Percent of Normal Precipitation
Useful Links
Precipitation at Centennial Airport (KAPA) and Cherry Ck Met Station in WY 2025 in Comparison to 2006-Present KAPA Average
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