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.Lake Powell Water Supply Outlook, February 1, 2009
Lake Powell Water Supply Outlook, February 1, 2009
November modeled soil moisture indicated much below and below average conditions for most of Green River Basin.
(Click for November 1st image) This signal is
incorporated in the ESP model guidance utilized by
the CBRFC in generating our forecasts. At the time of this publication, seasonal precipitation is near normal for most of the region. Snowpack ranges
from above average to below average in the major tributaries of the Green River.
*Median of forecasts within each basin.
There was a large discrepancy in the January precipitation between the northern half of
the Colorado River Basin and the southern half. The Upper Colorado Basin had 120% of
average precipitation during the month, while the Gunnison Basin had 80% and the Dolores
Basin had just 55% of average. The February 1st snow water equivalent percent of average
decreased from January 1st in the Gunnison and Dolores basins but is still above
average, as it is in the Upper Colorado.
*Median of forecasts within each basin.
-Model Soil Moisture/Observed Streamflow...Soil moisture
for most of the upper basins in the San Juan were below average last fall. This was most likely due
to limited monsoonal precipitation over the summer months. Observed streamflow for the month of January
was mostly below average for the San Juan.
-Snowpack/Precipitation...Snow water equivalents
for the entire San Juan Basin on February 1st was 115 percent of average.
Precipitation over the San Juan Basin for January was much below average with 55 percent. Seasonal
precipitation for the San Juan Basin decreased to 105 percent of average.
-Short Term Precipitation Forecast...The forecast models through the end of the first week of February keep the
San Juan Basin relatively dry.
-General Discussion...The CPC guidance has the possibility of above average precipitation and
below normal temperatures for the second week of February. However, for February through April, CPC
suggests a chance for below average preciptation. Due to the below average soil moiture in the upper basin
this fall and the combination of current snowpack conditions and the CPC forecast, the median April-July forecast for the San Juan Basin
is 110 percent of average.
*Median of forecasts within each basin.
Upper Green Basin Conditions
-Model Soil Moisture/Observed Streamflow...The November soil moisture conditions were much below average in the Upper Green Basin. Observed streamflow
for the month of January was 90 percent of average.
-Snowpack/Precipitation...In the Upper Green Basin, January precipitation was 105 percent of average. The basinwide to date snowpack condition
is 90 percent of average with individual Snotel stations ranging from 43 to 113 percent of average.
-General Discussion...The 30 Day and 90 Day CPC guidance shows equal chances for above, normal, or below precipitation. While the antecedent soil
moisture conditions will not change prior to runoff, there is ample time to accumulate snow in the upper basin. April through July forecast indicate
below average to average runoff volumes.
-Model Soil Moisture/Observed Streamflow...While soil moisture indicate drier than average Fall conditions in portions of this region, headwater
basins had near average conditions. Therefore, soil moisture deficits are not adversely effecting model guidance as much as in other regions.
Observed streamflow for the month of January was near average.
-Snowpack/Precipitation...Currently, the Yampa and White River basins has the highest snowpack conditions
within the Green, with most Snotel stations having values greater than 115 percent of average values on February 1st.
Observed streamflow for the month of January was near average.
-General Discussion...The 30 Day and 90 Day CPC guidance shows equal chances for above, normal, or below precipitation. April through July forecast runoff volumes
for the Yampa and White Basins ranged from near average to above average.
-Model Soil Moisture/Observed Streamflow...Fall soil conditions in the Duchesne were similar to the Upper Green with many basins indicating much below
average conditions. Observed streamflow for the month of January was near average.
-Snowpack/Precipitation...The snowpack condition
in the Duchesne Basin on February 1st is the same as January 1st at 85 percent of average. However, some Snotel stations located in the Eastern
portion of the Uinta South slope continue to report below average conditions. January precipitation was 95 percent of average.
-General Discussion...The 30 Day and 90 Day CPC guidance shows equal chances for above, normal, or below precipitation. Forecasts range below average on the
headwaters of the basin to much below average at downstream locations.
-Model Soil Moisture/Observed Streamflow...The November soil moisture conditions were much below average in the Lower Green Basin. Observed streamflow
for the month of January was near average.
-Snowpack/Precipitation...The Lower Green Basin
snowpack condition was 85 percent of average on February 1st. January precipitation was 110 percent of average.
-General Discussion...The 30 Day and 90 Day CPC guidance shows equal chances for above, normal, or below precipitation. Forecasts remain at near average
to below average.
-Model Soil Moisture/Observed Streamflow... Soil
moisture was near to above normal in the Upper Colorado heading into the winter.
January streamflow was near normal.
-Snowpack/Precipitation... January precipitation was 120% of average in the Upper
Colorado River Basin keeping the water year precipitation at 110% of average.
The basin wide February 1st snow
water equivalent percent of average also held
steady, as compared to January 1st, at 125% although some individual sub-basins
did see changes. The Muddy
Creek basin, which includes Wolford Mountain Reservoir,
had the greatest gain in the snowpack and is now over 110% of average, compared to
less than 90% of average at the beginning of January. On the flip side, the
Mill
Creek basin in Utah near the Colorado border had a decrease of over 30% of average
in its snowpack from last month. The Roaring
Fork basin snow water equivalent
percent of average decreased by about 10% from last month, but is still the highest
in the Upper Colorado Basin at over 130% of average.
-General Discussion... Changes to the April through July streamflow volume
forecasts from last month generally corresponded to the changes in the snowpack.
Muddy Creek had the biggest increase going from 92% to 103% of average and Mill
Creek had the biggest decrease going from 106% to 96%. The rest of the forecast
volumes remained the same or were increased up to 5% over last month's forecasts
reflecting changes in snow water equivalent. The April through July streamflow
volume forecasts now range between 96% and 116% of average, with a median value of 110%.
-Model Soil Moisture/Observed Streamflow...Soil moisture
for most of the upper basins in the Gunnison was near to slightly below average in the fall. Observed
streamflow for the month of January was average for the Gunnison.
-Snowpack/Precipitation...Precipitation over the Gunnison Basin as a whole
for January was below average at 80 percent. However, the northern portions
of the basin were near average while the southern portions were much below
average. As a result, the February 1st snow
water equivalent
percent of averages changed very little from the January 1st values in the East River and North Fork
Gunnison drainages, and dropped 5-10 percent in the Tomichi and Lake Fork
drainages. Seasonal precipitation for the Gunnison is 110 percent of average
and overall snow water equivalent remains above average at 115% of average.
-Short Term Precipitation Forecast...The forecast models through the first week of February keep the Gunnison Basin
relatively dry with slighly above average temperatures.
-General Discussion...The CPC guidance shows
the possibility of above average precipitation and below normal temperatures for the secound week of February.
However, for February through April, CPC suggests a chance for above average temperatures and below average
preciptation. Due to the average soil moiture in the upper basin this fall and the combination of current
snowpack conditions and the CPC forecast, the median April-July forecast for the Gunnison Basin is 110 percent of
average. This is up 5 percent from last month's forecast due to the average January precipitation
and steady snowpack across the northern portions of the Gunnison.
-Model Soil Moisture/Observed Streamflow...Soil moisture
for most of the upper basins in the Dolores was below average in the fall. This was most likely due to
limited monsoonal precipitation during the summer months. Observed streamflow for the month of January was
mostly below average for the Dolores.
-Snowpack/Precipitation...As of February 1st, snow water equivalents
across the Dolores were currently 120 percent of average. Precipitation over the Dolores Basin for
January was much below average with 55 percent. Seasonal average precipitation for the Dolores Basin is average with 100 percent.
-Short Term Precipitation Forecast...The forecast models through the first week of February keep the Dolores Basin
relatively dry with above average temperatures.
-General Discussion...The CPC guidance
shows the possibility of above average precipitation and below normal temperatures for the secound week of February.
However, for February through April, CPC suggests a chance for above average temperatures and below average
preciptation for the Dolores Basin. Due to the below average soil moiture in the upper basin this fall and the
combination of current snowpack conditions and the CPC forecast, the median April-July forecast for the Dolores Basin
is 105 percent of average.
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).