Snowpack Unusually High This Year

Snow pack measurments are above average for this time of year. The May 1st snow pack measurements showed record levels for snow water equivalents. Many of the middle elevation snow courses have not started to melt out. As of May 1st, the Snake River Drainage Basin’s snow packs averaged 164 percent of normal, over two and one-half times last year’s average of 61 percent of normal. Snow packs in Star Valley ranged from a high at the CCC Camp snow course site of 220 percent of normal to a low at the Willow Creek Snotel Site of 160 percent of normal. The Spring Creek Divide Snotel course at the head of Greys River is at an average of 156 percent of normal. Water flow predictions for the Greys and Salt Rivers were both predicted to flow 134 percent of normal as of April 1st.
Snow packs in the Uinta Mountains are 255 percent of average at Lily Lake Snotel Site. The Monte Cristo Snotel Site’s snow pack was 175 percent of normal.