Most Of West's Snowpack Has Already Melted - Powell Inflows Projected At 34% Of Average
West-wide snowpack has mostly melted, according to data from the fifth 2015 forecast by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. “Across most of the West, snowpack isn’t just low—it’s gone,” NRCS hydrologist David Garen said. “With some exceptions, this year’s snowmelt streamflow has already occurred.”
Garen said that for much of the western US, the snowpack at many of the stations is at or near the lowest on record. Months of unusually warm temperatures hindered snowpack growth and accelerated its melt.
“We still have some snowpack in northern Colorado, western Montana and southern Wyoming,” said Garen. “In addition, snowmelt from Canada will flow into the Columbia River.”
“It’s been a dry year for the Colorado River,” NRCS hydrologist Cara McCarthy said. “Snowmelt inflow into the Lake Powell Reservoir is forecast at 34 percent of normal.” The Lake Powell Reservoir supplies water to much of the Southwest, including Las Vegas, Los Angeles and southern Arizona. “We only forecast streamflow from current conditions,” McCarthy said. “Spring and summer rains might relieve areas that are dry.”
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http://www.hpj.com/general/western-snowpack-melts-early-little-remains/article_e6532e9e-d19c-56cd-9fea-faf285b40d4f.html
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