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Washington Water Supply Outlook
Report - May 1, 2012
It
wasn’t snow water or precipitation accumulation but rather high
temperatures breaking records last month. With daytime temperatures
reaching nearly 70 degrees Fahrenheit and night time temperatures
staying well above freezing at most all SNOTEL sites many new high
temperature records were set. This factor, in conjunction with a couple
of warm rain events, helped push most all basins over the top and into
the melt cycle. Most snow surveys this month indicated snow pack
densities in the 40-48% range which means that most sites are on the
verge of a major thaw. Even though the first few days of May have been
cold and wet, short term weather forecasts indicate a trend toward
warming and drying with freezing levels rising above 10,000 feet. The
90-day long range and summer forecasts predict drier than normal
conditions however temperature forecasts are still up in the air.
The May 1 statewide SNOTEL readings were 140% of average, only slightly
higher than last month. All basins have passed the normal peak
accumulation period, generally April 1-15, and have entered the melt
cycle. Easy Pass SNOTEL has the highest SWE ever recorded by a
Washington SNOTEL site. On May 3, it recorded 124.6 inches of SWE,
eclipsing the old record set by Paradise SNOTEL back on May 7, 1997 of
123.1 inches. During the month of April, the National Weather Service
and Natural Resources Conservation Service climate stations reported
above average precipitation totals throughout most Washington river
basins. Forecasts were refined this month but still vary from 93% of
average for Icicle Creek to 139% of average for Ahtanum Creek, but for
the most part remain unchanged from last month. Above average rainfall,
snowmelt and normal reservoir operations led to mostly above normal
runoff throughout the state.
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