Note: This publication is currently undergoing major revisions. The current publication will be replaced with a new publication based on stakeholder requirements and scientific advances. We expect to begin sharing details on this soon. If you have input on content, format, or publication frequency at any time, please contact us at cbrfc.webmasters@noaa.gov.Green Water Supply Outlook, February 1, 2011

Green Water Supply Outlook, February 1, 2011


Prepared by Ashley Nielson
NOAA, National Weather Service
Colorado Basin River Forecast Center
Salt Lake City, Utah
www.cbrfc.noaa.gov

Contents

Green Summary




*Median of forecasts within each basin.


Upper Green Basin Conditions

The following conditions influenced this month's forecasts:

Precipitation:
Seasonal October through January precipitation was 130 percent of average in the Upper Green basin. January precipitation was 75 percent of average in the basin as a whole; however, portions of the basin such as the Ham's Fork river basin received near average precipitation.

Snow:
February 1st snow water equivalent was 120 percent of average in the basin.
--- Upper Green basin snow water equivalent plot.

Streamflow:
December streamflow was near 95 percent of average.

Soil Moisture:
Modeled soil moisture states were below average heading into the winter.

Climate Forecasts:
Climate forecasts were not a factor because there is not a strong correlation between La Nina conditions and winter precipitation in the Upper Green basin.

Forecast Summary:
The majority of Upper Green received below average precipitation for January. As a result of the January precipitation, the percent of average for both snow water equivalent and seasonal precipitation decreased from last month. However, due to the above to much above average monthly precipitation prior to January, the seasonal precipitation and February 1st snow water equivalent still remain above average. As a result, April through July streamflow volumes are similar to January or have decreased slightly. Current forecasts range between 100 and 124 percent of average with a median value of 100 percent.



* Percent usable capacity, not percent average contents.
Click for multi-month Graph.

Yampa/White Basin Conditions

The following conditions influenced this month's forecasts:

Precipitation:
Seasonal October through January precipitation was 140 percent of average in the Yampa/White basin. January precipitation was 70 percent of average in the basin as a whole; however, portions of the basin such as the Yampa and Elk river basins received near average precipitation.

Snow:
February 1st snow water equivalent was 125 percent of average in the basin.
--- Yampa basin snow water equivalent plot.

Streamflow:
January streamflow was near 95 percent of average.

Soil Moisture:
Modeled soil moisture states were near average heading into the winter for the Yampa, Little Snake,and White River basins.

Climate Forecasts:
Climate forecasts were not a factor in the forecasts because there is not a strong correlation between La Nina conditions and winter precipitation in the Yampa/White basin.

Forecast Summary:
The majority of the Yampa basin received below average precipitation for January. As a result of the January precipitation, the percent of average for both snow water equivalent and seasonal precipitation decreased from last month. However, due to the much above average monthly precipitation prior to January, the seasonal precipitation and February 1st snow water equivalent still remain much above average. As a result, April through July streamflow volumes did not change. Current forecasts range between 108 and 134 percent of average with a median value of 120 percent.



* Percent usable capacity, not percent average contents.
Click for multi-month Graph.

Duchesne Basin Conditions

The following conditions influenced this month's forecasts:

Precipitation:
Seasonal October through January precipitation was 180 percent of average in the Duchesne basin. January precipitation was 40 percent of average.

Snow:
February 1st snow water equivalent was 160 percent of average in the basin as a whole.
--- Duchesne basin snow water equivalent plot.

Streamflow:
January streamflow was 95 percent of average.

Soil Moisture:
Modeled soil moisture states were much below average to below average heading into the winter.

Climate Forecasts:
Climate forecasts were not a factor in the forecasts because there is not a strong correlation between La Nina conditions and winter precipitation in the Duchesne basin.

Forecast Summary:
The Duchesne basin received much below average precipitation for January. As a result of the January precipitation, the percent of average for both snow water equivalent and seasonal precipitation decreased from last month. However, due to the much above average monthly precipitation prior to January, the seasonal precipitation and February 1st snow water equivalent still remain much above average. As a result, April through July streamflow volumes did not change. Current forecasts range between 115 and 174 percent of average with a median value of 143 percent.



* Percent usable capacity, not percent average contents.
Click for multi-month Graph.

Lower Green Basin Conditions

The following conditions influenced this month's forecasts:

Precipitation:
Seasonal October through January precipitation was 190 percent of average in the Lower Green basin. February precipitation was 30 percent of average.

Snow:
February 1st snow water equivalent was 130 percent of average in the basin as a whole.
--- Lower Green basin snow water equivalent plot.

Streamflow:
January streamflow was near 130 percent of average.

Soil Moisture:
Modeled soil moisture states were much below to near average heading into the winter.

Climate Forecasts:
Climate forecasts were not a factor in the forecasts because there is not a strong correlation between La Nina conditions and winter precipitation in the Lower Green basin.

Forecast Summary:
The Lower Green river basin received much below average precipitation in January. As a result of the January precipitation, the percent of average for both snow water equivalent and seasonal precipitation decreased from last month. However,due to the much above average monthly precipitation prior to January, the seasonal precipitation and February 1st snow water equivalent still remain much above average. April through July streamflow volumes did not change or decreased slightly. Current forecasts range between 121 and 162 percent of average with a median value of 129 percent.



* Percent usable capacity, not percent average contents.
Click for multi-month Graph.









Differences between the full period forecasts and the residual forecasts may not exactly equal the actual observed volumes due to rounding conventions (see Definitions section).

Reservoir Monthly Inflow Forecasts







Monthly Streamflows







Precipitation Maps








Hydrologist: Ashley Nielson