Snow & Flow Update — And Owyhee is up !
Here’s an update for Selway & Lochsa Rivers based on Jan 1 & Jan 28 that shows the current snow, chance to recover, and plots of other strong El Nino years along with analog years. We’ll keep an eye on using 2010 as another analog year for this winter and watch how it tracks else in the state too. Enjoy spring skiing this week but stay tuned as we still have 40% of winter to go and winter returns in early February (this weekend)!
Following are long & short term snow analysis that illustrate the Jan 1 snowpack and how the snowpack ended the season Apr 1. Short answer – need more storms!
Following are long & short term snow analysis that illustrate the Jan 1 snowpack and how it ended up on Apr 1. Short answer – need more storms!
Here’s an update of fall streamflow & soil moisture conditions leading into winter, other strong El Nino years, 2024 Analog Years, chance for Owyhee & Boise basins snow to recover to normal by April 1, and a few streamflow forecasts. More posts and snow will be dropping…
Keep in mind, Pete’s analog years are based on current Pacific Ocean and atmosphere conditions to generate awareness of current conditions and precipitation and temperatures outlooks based on
analog years. They were never intended to zoom down to a basin level or individual station, but let’s have some fun, give it a try to see how they worked to give us a heads up about the winter snowpack for Twin Lakes SNOTEL, Boise Basin and Bogus Basin SNOTEL.
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.
Here’s a short update, just dont tell Mike… The Bruneau is unique place, lets keep it that way. There’s enough snow to produce another increase, but the wild card are the extended period of hot temps. I didn’t look to see how much if any rain fell in May 2006 that added to flow increase.
The winter of 2022 – 2023 will be a winter to remember. Here’s a summary of the history of the Bogus Basin snow sites that are used to compare this year’s snowfall to the historic data, and the 113 inches of record setting depth of snow measured on the ground March 30, 2023.
Snow Weather and Flow 