USDA: Snowpack, Water Storage Concerning In NW

It may be early February, but there’s already concerns about irrigation this spring and summer because of the light snowpacks being reported across the west.

“The Snow Water equivalency percentage of averages to below normal just about everywhere and that does include much of the Northwest outside of Oregon and outside of the eastern slopes of the Northern Rockies,” said USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey.

Rippey added from a surface water perspective, the news may not be so bleak.

“We have had this winter preceded by two pretty optimistic winters in terms of winter snow and runoff.  And so, for the most part, a lot of our reservoirs are still in reasonably good shape after two wet winters in the West.”

But, he pointed out there are two exceptions when it comes to reservoir water levels: New Mexico and Washington.  He said another issue to watch is how quickly temperatures warm this spring, determining how fast the snowpack melts and runs off.

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