MF has leveled off flowing less than last year and similar to 2016. The headwater of the Snake River is pushing record low flows based on 40 years of data. Salmon Falls Creek is usually one of the first rivers to bottom out in late summer / early fall and the flow starts increasing with the longer, cooler nights and reduced water up take from plants.
Here’s an update based on current info. We’ll see later today and tomorrow how high these rivers peak. Here’s a link to previous post to project flow levels on your launch date for MF & Selway. Give it a try and see if still works after the peak has occurred. No cheating, wait for the peak… and play it safe. https://snowweatherandflow.blog/2022/06/19/mf-salmon-and-selway-rivers-recession-flow-estimation-tool-for-use-after-peak-flows-have-occurred-and-river-is-in-full-recession/
With the return of warm temps, rivers are rising again. The last cold front slowed the melt down to a few tenths per day and increased to 1.4″ yesterday with temps reaching 67 F at Deadwood Summit. With these yoyo like temps and some precipitation remaining in forecast, expect a few more ups n downs in flow levels before full recession starts.
Here’s an update for the MF, Main, Lochsa and Selway Rivers showing there’s enough remaining snow to generate another increase in flow the next few days. This may be the last week of cooler/wetter spring weather with forecasts hinting at warmer/nicer weather for June’s arrival. Keep an eye on the sky watching the weather, and your mouse on snow melt and river levels pages as we see how high the rivers rise from this pulse of water coming out of the mountains. Enjoy & be safe !
Snowmelt peaks are happening – this week’s warm temps should be enough to push enough snow out of the remaining snowpack to produce peak flows before freezing night time temps return Friday night. This will slow melt rates and push recession flows out a bit. Enjoy & be safe – know your limits.
Short summary presented at the State’s May Water Supply Meeting about the following:
May 7 Snow2Flow update – with return of warm weather, rivers will rise again to generate another peak from remaining snow with temps pushing 80s F in Boise. Air temps and duration of warm spell will determine how fast the snow melts, how high the rivers rise and when the snow runs out that feeds the rives. Enjoy and be safe!
Here’s an update looking at remaining snow, snowmelt, volume forecasts and similar runoff years. We’ll see a decrease in melt and flows with cooler front moving in, but melt and flows are projected to rebound later this week with return to high pressure, that will hopefully move on sooner than later…
Snow Weather and Flow 