Idaho Museum of Mining & Geology talk from March 9 about 1. Current Ocean and Atmosphere Teleconnections, 2. Conditions Leading to this Year, 3. 2024 Extreme Weather & Natural Disasters, 4. Current Stream, Snow and Water Supply Forecasts with Highlights for the Payette, Boise and Owyhee Basins, and Weather Outlooks.
Now with snow starting to accumulate in the mountains, let’s look at the start of this winter’s snowpack and compare it to the analog years we’ve been talking about. Here’s a recap of Pete Parsons, Oregon Dept of Ag, Seasonal Climate Forecast from November 21, 2024 Update.
Let’s have some fun and look at how this year’s snowpack is starting to accumulate and compare with the analog years 1967, 1993 and 2017. We’ll look for similar snow accumulations patterns and as we progress deeper into winter, we’ll see if one year stands out more than the others and use it to provide some insight about next summer’s river flows.
Here’s an update for the Owyhee based on current snow, flow projections and more weather moving in this week and next. It’s nice to look at big picture to see what’s happening around this tri-state basin.
Snow & Flow Summary for many of Idaho’s whitewater rivers. Current snow, water supply forecasts, analog snow years, and runoff examples for these years. Example runoff years used, illustrate a early to normal snow melt and a late melt that had a wet spring (2010). Also included, is bonus sneak peak at next winter, the year after a strong El Nino year like this year. Here’s an updated March weather slide from Cliff Mass Blog that shows high pressure is likely to move into the West March 13-20. This may start the lower elevation rivers to flow depending on air temperature levels.
Why they send river rejection emails out on Valentine’s Day, I’ll never know but got my rejectionS. For those wondering about the snow, here’s an update that show snow changes from Jan to Feb, chance for the pack to recover and SWE graphs of analog snow years for the lucky ones that won !
Recession flows are in full swing which makes it easy to see where they’re coming from and going. Flows range from near record low in northern Idaho, below average in the Salmon, to above average in central and southern Idaho. Even the Owyhee is flowing above average. Enjoy the flow where you can and we’ll see what El Nino brings next winter…
The Teton River is just reaching its snowmelt peak while the Moyie River is flowing near record low. The Owyhee River is just now reaching the tail end of recession flows. Central Idaho’s rivers are receding from their snow driven peaks. May brought warm temps with above freezing nighttime that resulted in 24/7 meting and probably record high SWE loses during the month of May because there was plenty of snow to melt. June’s cooler and wetter weather will help push recession flows out a bit before the normal low flow summer levels arrive. Owyhee and Bruneau recession flows months are a good example of these extended flows. Enjoy the river, know your limits and keep your eye on the weather and those river flow levels.
Snowmelt peaks flows have passed but June rains can generate additional increases. Didn’t realize the Moyie River is flowing near record low and exactly the opposite of 2022.
Snowmelt water is still feeding our rivers with enough from the higher elevation basins to generate another increase in the Big Lost River and Teton River. Weather outlooks are trending with more of the same weather for the rest of June – cool in southern Idaho / Nevada and warmer towards Seattle.
It’s almost time for a road trip to find the the Big Lost White Stallion ! Warming day time temps and above freezing nighttime temps will keep the snow melting 24 hours a day.
Snow Weather and Flow 