Winter has looked a little different across the Snake River Headwaters this year. Although precipitation since October has been above average, record-warm temperatures have meant less of that moisture has been stored as snow. Below is a snapshot of current conditions. Stay tuned for updates as we continue tracking changes heading into spring and summer.
· Warm temperatures this week follow what has been reported to be the warmest December-February in Wyoming record
· Snow water equivalent dropped to 89% of the 1991-2020 median. Precipitation since October 1st is 112% of the median.
· Palisades and Jackson continue to fill, with outflows at winter release conditions. Jackson Lake is currently 73% full and Palisades Reservoir is 47% full.
· Gaged tributaries have been at baseflow conditions, but if warm temperatures continue, streamflow will increase as low‑ and mid‑elevation snow melts.
Teton County water update courtesy of Sarah Newcomb, TU’s Snake River Headwaters Watershed Scientist.