Snowfall in Southern Utah breaking records this year

[Quixote1818]

Take a look at this graph:


http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/cgibin/wygraph-multi.pl?state=UT&wateryear=2005&stationidname=12m23s-MIDWAY%20VALLEY

The precipitation amount is wrong because it got covered with snow but the pillow that determines snow water equivalent is correct. They have had over 50 inches of melted down precipitation in four months. That is incredible for that part of Utah.

This map shows how the whole west is doing:

http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/snotelanom/basinswe.html

Pacific North West is in bad shape.

[MuseRider]

1. Will this drain

into Lake Powell? They sure could use it there.

[Quixote1818]

2. Not from that site

Midway Valley Utah will drain into the Virgin River which runs into Lake Mead. However much of what is in Colorado and Northern Utah will drain into Lake Powell. The low snowfall in Wyoming won't help Powell. All in all Lake Powell should rise up quite a few feet this year but not nearly enough to end the drought.

I will post a site that shows what projected runoff will be for the Colorado in a second.

[MuseRider]

4. Thanks.

I happen to love Utah, a really psychedelic state. I saw Lake Powell many years ago and have been stunned by the pictures and reports I have seen the last few years. I was in Utah 2 years ago all around the Moab region and it was terribly dry, much more than usual as was Western Colorado. I hope the drought gets better there. Thanks.

[Quixote1818]

3. Here you go

ftp://ftp.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/support/snow/snowpack_maps/colorado_river/wy2005/cosnow0502.gif

For the most part the Colorado River looks to be in really good shape this year.