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, 2011
Lake Powell Water Supply Outlook, February 1, 2011
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.
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.
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.
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.
The following conditions influenced this month's forecasts:
Precipitation:
Seasonal October through January precipitation
was near 135 percent of average in the Upper Colorado mainstem basin.
January precipitation was near 85 percent of average in the basin
as a whole, however upper portions of the basin, such as the Blue and Eagle river basins
and the mainstem headwaters, received near to above average precipitation.
Snow:
February 1st snow water equivalent was near 130 percent of average in the basin
as a whole; this is 75% of the seasonal peak.
--- Upper Colorado basin snow
water equivalent plot
Streamflow:
February streamflow was near 95 percent of average.
Soil Moisture:
Modeled soil
moisture states were near to above 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 Colorado mainstem basin.
Forecast Summary:
January was the first month of this water year with below average precipitation in the
Upper Colorado mainstem basin; monthly precipitation had been above to much above average
each month of the water year prior to January. As of February 1st the percent of average
of both the seasonal precipitation and snow water equivalent are lower than they were at
the start of last month, but still much above average in the basin as a whole.
Most forecast volumes are the same as last month. Decreases
at the Colorado River near Cisco and Lake Powell inflow were due to changes in other
contributing basins. Current April through July streamflow volume forecasts
range between 113 and 139 percent of average with a median value of 120 percent.
The following conditions influenced this month's forecasts:
Precipitation:
Seasonal October through January precipitation was 125 percent of average
in the Gunnison basin. January precipitation was 55 percent of average.
Snow:
February 1st snow water equivalent was near 130 percent of average in the Gunnison basin; this is 75% of the seasonal peak.
--- Gunnison basin snow
water equivalent plot
Streamflow:
January streamflow was 95 percent of average.
Soil Moisture:
Modeled soil
moisture states were below to near 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 Gunnison basin.
Forecast Summary:
January precipitation throughout the Gunnison basin was much below average at 55%. Seasonal precipitation for the Gunnison basin dropped from last month to 125% of average.
February 1st seasonal snow water equivalent for the Gunnison was above average with 130%; whereas the snow water equivalent is 75% of the average seasonal peak.
Since the percent of average for both seasonal snow water equivalent and seasonal precipitation decreased from last month, the current April through July streamflow volume forecasts dropped
in the Gunnison Basin from last month's forecast. Current April through July streamflow volume forecasts range between 93 and 126 percent of average with a median value of
110 percent.
The following conditions influenced this month's forecasts:
Precipitation:
Seasonal October through January precipitation was 110 percent of average
in the entire Dolores basin. January precipitation was just 25 percent of average.
Snow:
February 1st snow water equivalent was 100 percent of average in the Dolores basin as a whole; this is 60% of the seasonal peak.
--- Dolores basin snow
water equivalent plot
Streamflow:
January streamflow was 95 percent of average.
Soil Moisture:
Modeled soil
moisture states were average to slightly below average heading into the winter.
Climate Forecasts:
The correlation of La Nina and April through July water volumes in the Dolores basin is small that
it did not influence the forecast process.
Forecast Summary:
January precipitation throughout the Dolores basin was much below average at 25%. Seasonal precipitation for the Dolores basin dropped from last month to 110% of average.
February 1st seasonal snow water equivalent for the Dolores was average with 110%; whereas the snow water equivalent is 60% of the average seasonal peak.
Since the percent of average for both seasonal snow water equivalent and seasonal precipitation decreased from last month, the current April through July streamflow volume forecasts
dropped in the Dolores Basin from last month's forecast. Current April through July streamflow volume forecasts range between
87 and 93 percent of average, with a median value of 90 percent.
The following conditions influenced this month's forecasts:
Precipitation:
Seasonal October through January precipitation amounts dropped from last month to near average, 105%, due to the very dry month of
January.
January precipitation was 20 percent of average, which was much below average.
Snow:
Current snow water equivalent for the entire basin is 105%, which is near average. The Animas basin is similar with 110%, while above Navajo
snow water equivalent was 95 percent of average. All three dropped significantly since January 1st.
--- Animas River Basin Snow Plot.
--- Above Navajo Basin Snow Plot.
Streamflow:
Streamflow for the entire San Juan Basin was below average for January at 65%. Seasonal streamflow since October
continued to be below average at 65%, due to the much below average fall precipitation.
Soil Moisture:
Modeled soil
moisture as of November 1st, 2010 was average to below average across the entire San Juan Basin.
Climate Forecasts:
The correlation of La Nina and April through July water volumes in the San Juan basin does suggest slightly drier than average December through May precipitation,
but it did not influence the February forecast process.
Forecast Summary:
Seasonal precipitation and current snowpack have dropped to average values compared to last month. Also, soil moisture conditions before
the winter season were near average in the upper basin. This drove the San Juan Water Supply
April-July forecast down to a median value of 95 percent.
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).