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 !
The Teton River is always interesting to watch because of its tight relationship with Grand Targhee SWE. Based on melt at other similar years, snowmelt peak flow may not occur until June 1-15.
Here’s a quick update that shows agreement with snowmelt relationships and snowmelt peak flows. Cool temps will slow remaining melt and push flows out a bit when warm temps return.
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.
The Bruneau is rising again along with Salmon Falls Creek. The Owyhee had a long and amazing season and is holding steady from the remaining snow melting in the basin.
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!
Low snow means low flows in these basins. Hopefully more weather moves in during the month of May
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…
With below normal precipitation April 1-24 across the state and little expected in next 7 days, streamflow volumes are decreasing from April 1 release. The Owyhee River has peaked from snowmelt and remaining snow will help sustain flows. Remaining snow in Bruneau and Salmon Falls basins will produce another another flow increase. Future snowmelt rates and weather will determine if next flow increase exceeds the previous peaks already seen.
Snow Weather and Flow 