2017 Utah Snowpack

[jman]

Continuing from last year's thread: 2016 Utah's Snowpack , here are the stats thus far.





It looks like SW Utah is getting pounded. My one hope for my outdoor hit-list (since 2007) is to see Gunlock Reservoir overflowing again, creating MANY waterfalls. Beautiful.

Just for fun, here are stats from last years snowpack, albeit just a week earlier:

[Scott P]

If this continues, it is going to be a great season for rafting!

[Scott P]

30" at Brighton yesterday:



Colorado has also been getting pounded. We had almost nothing at Thanksgiving. Check out the snowpack graph at places like the San Juans:

[accadacca]

So how does this year rank historically?

[jman]

That is a lot!

If this "pineapple express" moisture keeps up, we will be having a great year for the west coast.

And coming from a firefighting background, the more water we have, the more vegetation will grow, and more potential for many more fires. You would think that during a dry year that you would have more fires, but not so. I'll bet the St. George BLM will be busy come summer!



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[Scott P]

So how does this year rank historically?

Really good, but not that close to record breaking-yet at least. The amazing part is that until mid-December snowpack was below normal. Since then, it has been dumping. If it weren't for the slow start, the snowpack would be even more amazing.

Ironically, Montana has much less snow than normal. Normally in La Nina years, Montana gets pounded and places like Southern Utah and Southern Colorado stay relatively dry. This has been a really weird La Nina.

"Normal" La Nina:



The Pacific Jet Stream has been pushed farther south than it typically does in La Nina years and the snowfall in the Rockies is mostly an east to west band of locations getting most of the storms. Southern Idaho, Utah, Southern Wyoming, and Colorado have been getting pounded. Montana, most of New Mexico and much of northern Idaho and parts of Washington have been drier than normal. The storm track has been stuck in the same place.

Part of the slow start was due to warm temperatures in the Arctic early season. October, November, and December were extremely warm in the Arctic, when compared to normal. This prevented the Arctic Ocean from freezing over until later than normal, which kept the storm track up north. As soon as the ocean froze over though, it was quickly pushed southward and has been basically stuck in the same place.

Right now, the bulk of Colorado and Utah are forecasted to have equal chances of wet vs. dry weather for the next three months. The Four Corners region however, should typically dry out a bit and the Pacific Jet Steam migrates north, but as said, this has been a really weird La Nina.

[rockgremlin]

How much of that 238% snowpack for SW Utah is located in Gunlock's watershed? I'd like to see Gunlock overflowing too, but the last time I was there (last November) it was waaaaay low. It looked to me like it would require at least 2 - 3 years of above average precipitation to restore it to normal levels.

[jman]

How much of that 238% snowpack for SW Utah is located in Gunlock's watershed? I'd like to see Gunlock overflowing too, but the last time I was there (last November) it was waaaaay low. It looked to me like it would require at least 2 - 3 years of above average precipitation to restore it to normal levels.

I know, it's a fools hope, but man, I sure hope so. The last time it was roaring at full capacity (compared to a a trickle from a few years ago) was April 2006. I know, cause I'm diligent every year in keeping track of the conditions of these falls. Serious, it's a destination spot just for the falls alone in my humble opinion.

The state park use to post current elevation of the lake but that was 10years ago. Now it just says "low". But the latest fishing report from two days ago says "low but rising". So I'm crossing my fingers very hard here.

It's a small lake so it could fill up rather quickly from the snow and rains this spring...but it's a fools hope I suppose.


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[Scott P]

The state park use to post current elevation of the lake but that was 10years ago. Now it just says "low". But the latest fishing report from two days ago says "low but rising". So I'm crossing my fingers very hard here.

It's a small lake so it could fill up rather quickly from the snow and rains this spring...but it's a fools hope I suppose.

The low water could probably lso be attributed to the population boom in that region as well, rather than just the weather. That area has been booming astronomically and the per capita water usage is very high.

[rockgremlin]

I assume you're talking about Santa Clara? Because Gunlock itself is little more than a ghost town that refuses to die...and I think all of the residents might be related.

[Scott P]

I assume you're talking about Santa Clara? Because Gunlock itself is little more than a ghost town that refuses to die...and I think all of the residents might be related.

I meant Southwest Utah in general. I would assume that the water from Gunlock Reservoir goes to more than just Gunlock residents.

[accadacca]

[accadacca]

[Sandstone Addiction]

@Scott P , where do you find the weather data like the one you show on occasion for Craig? I have searched the NOAA website and it has lots and lots of stuff but never did find the info I'm looking for.

I'm looking for the snow accumulation totals for Salem or nearby.

[Scott P]

I'm looking for the snow accumulation totals for Salem or nearby.

I don't think Salem has an official weather station, but nearby Spanish Fork does. Here's a link where you can find a lot of info on several cities in the region:

http://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=slc

It looks like 41 inches of snow in Spanish Fork so far this month. Impressive!

[Sandstone Addiction]

I don't think Salem has an official weather station, but nearby Spanish Fork does. Here's a link where you can find a lot of info on several cities in the region:

http://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=slc

It looks like 41 inches of snow in Spanish Fork so far this month. Impressive!

That is exactly what I was looking for! Great info for sure.

The Spanish Fork station should be pretty close to the same conditions at my house.

Thanks Scott.

[jman]

This is current as of today, 2/15/17,







There's a bunch of storms coming this weekend for nearly all of Utah, so I will capture a post-storm total next week too.

[jman]

As we head into March, it's looking REALLY good for 2017. All above 120% still.







Compared to March 2016:

[jman]

That last storm brought up the states percentage a notch or two, especially for SE Utah. And this will be the last post until the next rain/snow storm.

[rockgremlin]

@jman - thanks for continually updating this thread.

I wonder how much Lake Powell will rise this year with the abundant snowpack?