GJ ends 2012 with 3rd driest year on record

Dry and warm. Though it doesn't feel that way now, those words definitely describe this year on the Western Slope.

With the New Year approaching, some say a change in weather would be nice. They’re hoping Mother Nature can help Colorado avoid further drought and wildfires.

We woke up to a thin layer of snow in the Grand Junction. That’s how we’re wrapping up the third driest and third warmest year on record.   

December’s snow fall has been above average.   That’s a big plus for 2012 when you look back at the dry conditions that worsened rapidly during the spring and summer.

Meteorologist Paul Frisbie, with The National Weather Service, sums up what many Coloradans are hoping for with the start of the New Year.

“We need to see more precipitation. Perhaps we could continue to make up ground,” Frisbie said.

December has turned out to be the wettest month of 2012 but typically its one of the driest.

In just the past couple weeks we've gotten ten inches of snow in the valley, meaning this year's winter has already given us more snow then all of last year's.

But it's still not enough. Unless we continue to see snow as we head into spring you can expect another summer short on water.