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Western cities map snow by air to refine water forecasting

Water flows past a few remaining snow patches along the Blue River, Monday, April 18, 2022, in Breckenridge, Colo. Some drought-prone communities in the U.S. West are mapping snow by air to refine their water forecasts. It's one way water managers are adjusting as climate change disrupts weather patterns and makes current forecasting methods less reliable. (AP Photo/Brittany Peterson)

Pilot Derek Malone reviews a map before the inaugural flight above the headwaters of the Colorado River using a 3D laser mapping device to measure properties of snow from the air Monday, April 18, 2022, in Gunnison, Colo. As climate change disrupts weather patterns, current water forecasting methods are becoming less reliable, but new ways of measuring snow — including an airplane-based 3-D laser mapping system — are emerging across the arid West. (AP Photo/Brittany Peterson)

Dan Berisford, an engineer with Airborne Snow Observatories, puts on an oxygen mask as he prepares to oversee the inaugural flight above the headwaters of the Colorado River using a 3-D laser mapping device to measure properties of snow from the air Monday, April 18, 2022, in Gunnison, Colo. As climate change disrupts weather patterns, current water forecasting methods are becoming less reliable, but new ways of measuring snow — including the airplane-based 3-D laser mapping system — are emerging across the arid West. (AP Photo/Brittany Peterson)

The Blue River, an important source of water for Denver and others along the Colorado River, is surrounded by snow, Monday, April 18, 2022, near Blue River, Colo. (AP Photo/Brittany Peterson)

Jeffrey Deems watches as a plane takes off to measure properties of snow from the air for his company, Airborne Snow Observatories, Monday, April 18, 2022, in Gunnison, Colo. The flight by Airborne Snow Observatories measured the area around the headwaters of the Colorado River. But the hope is to expand the work along the stressed river, which 40 million people rely on, Deems said. (AP Photo/Brittany Peterson)

A laser mapping instrument used to measure snow is mounted on the belly of an airplane, Monday, April 18, 2022, in Gunnison, Colo. Some drought-prone communities in the U.S. West are mapping snow by air to refine their water forecasts. (AP Photo/Brittany Peterson)

A plane prepares to take off for the inaugural flight above the headwaters of the Colorado River equipped with lasers, sensors and camera to measure snow from the air Monday, April 18, 2022, in Gunnison, Colo. The measurements could give local officials more confidence in water forecasts. (AP Photo/Brittany Peterson)

Dan Berisford, an engineer with Airborne Snow Observatories, cleans a laser mapping device used to measure snow that is mounted under an airplane, Monday, April 18, 2022, in Gunnison, Colo. Some drought-prone communities in the U.S. West are mapping snow by air to refine their water forecasts. (AP Photo/Brittany Peterson)

A road winds through the snow-covered Rocky Mountains at Hoosier Pass as seen from the air, Monday, April 18, 2022, near Blue River, Colo. Some drought-prone communities in the U.S. West are mapping snow by air to refine their water forecasts. It's one way water managers are adjusting as climate change disrupts weather patterns and makes current forecasting methods less reliable. (AP Photo/Brittany Peterson)

Western cities map snow by air to refine water forecasting