Idaho’s Snowpack & Water Situation Benefited From April Weather

The snowpack across the western U.S. was not good this winter, but that doesn’t mean all states saw the same dismal numbers. Erin Whorton with NRCS said while Idaho’s snowpack was only 68% of average this year, she pointed out the Gem State fared better than neighboring states. And last month’s weather helped noticeably.

“It did get cold, it got wet, and we ended up getting 127% of our normal precipitation in April in Idaho," Whorton said. "Most of that was north of the Snake River, and the wettest part was actually kind of in the Boise, Payette, and Weiser basins of western Idaho. And thankfully, we did get the wet cold month that slowed things down. So, at this point, 40% of this year's snowpack has melted, about 60% of the snowpack remaining in Idaho, and most of that snowpack is, concentrated at those higher elevations.”

Idaho's Snowpack Didn't Hit 70% of Average This Winter

Photo: Glenn Vaagen

Whorton noted soil moisture levels, which are either average, or in some cases elevated for this time of year are helping as well. And she said while the news isn’t all bad, concerns remain for the months ahead after the mid-elevation snowpacks melted much earlier than normal.

“Normally in the spring, you have this gradual release of snow melt water as irrigation demand is increasing," Whorton said. "And so you have a natural balance between the two and the snow melt feeds the irrigation demand. And that saves the water less that's in the reservoirs, less for later in the summer when our summers are really dry and hot and we just don't get much precipitation typically. And right now, because the snow melted so early and tapering off sooner and irrigation demand came on pretty strong because of that with those warm temperatures in March, we're actually seeing the reservoirs draft earlier than normal.”

A Cold, Wet April Helped Idaho's Water Year To Date Numbers

Photo: Glenn Vaagen

Whorton added May is expected to be warmer and drier than normal across Idaho, which will be an additional stress on the reservoirs and irrigation systems statewide.