Snowpack in Salmon River country

This morning the snow pack report for the Salmon River drainage shows 120% of average for the date.  The fall was warm and dry  until mid-November, then winter arrived with an abrupt cold snap.  Temperature in the morning was O for several days, and ice began to flow down the river and jam. Temperature moderated, and we began to get precipitation.  The snowpack has increased 50 per centage points in the last 2-3 weeks.

Early snow is important, because it packs down, freezes, and lasts.  Late winter storms sometimes bring a low snowpack up to normal, but by the time summer arrives, we still end up with below normal stream flow.  It’s a long time till summer, but this is a good start.