It’s always nice to see what the rivers are doing where you are going or where you want to be. The recent cold spell put a damper on snowmelt when rivers were increasing and put a twist in the Snow2Flow relationships, but there’s still enough remaining snow to generate another increase if not the peak for the season. Stay tuned, and if you happen to see the Big Lost Shite Stallion, let me know !
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.
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…
With snowmelt rates at 1.5-2.0″ a day for several days streams are reaching their peaks just as cooler temps arrived and snow starts to runs out a few sites. But as observed in the Owyhee and Bruneau Rivers, rivers stayed higher longer probably as a result of the good mid-elevation snow that feeds ’em.
Boundary Creek Road May 19, 2023 with 15″ SWE at Banner Summit.
Snow Weather and Flow 