FLOOD POTENTIAL IN THE UPPER COLORADO RIVER BASIN

The following are generalized discussions of the flood potential due to snowmelt in the Upper Colorado River drainage as of March 1, 1999. Discussions are segregated by state. It is important to understand that the potential for flooding may increase dramatically if snowmelt accelerates rapidly due to above normal temperatures or if significant rain events occur.

COLORADO: The March 1 snowpack in western Colorado is near to below normal and the volume forecasts for the April through July runoff are calling for near to much below average flows. The snowmelt flood potential is not high at this time. Currently, no forecast points are expected to exceed flood stage.

WYOMING: The snowmelt flood potential for streams in southwest Wyoming is not high at this time. However some minor ice jam flooding is a possibility during the month of March, mainly on the Blacks Fork River. The March 1 snowpack varies from near to slightly above normal. As of March 1 no forecasts points are expected to exceed flood stage.

UTAH: Currently, the snowmelt flood potential for the Utah portion of the basin is not high with the snowpack varying from near normal to much below normal. As of March 1, no forecast points are expected to exceed flood stage.

NEW MEXICO: The snowmelt flood potential over the New Mexico portion of the basin, at this time, is below normal. Snowpack for locations upstream of the Four Corners area is below average. Volume forecasts for southwest Colorado streams draining into New Mexico are below average. No forecast points are projected to exceed flood stage due solely to snowmelt during the spring and summer season of 1999.