[pct-l] Washington Snow Year

[Tom Griffin]

I just get the digest, so excuse the repetition if someone has already 
replied to Tex's question.

In today's Seattle Times, there was a brief item about the lower than 
normal snowpack thanks to El Nino:

-------------------------
Associated Press
YAKIMA, Wash. —

El Nino is shaping up as expected for the Pacific Northwest this winter, 
resulting in warmer temperatures, drier conditions and below-average 
mountain snowpack in Washington, the federal government said Tuesday.

The warmer and drier conditions this year have resulted in mountain 
snowpack levels that are below average across Washington state, except 
on the Olympic Peninsula, said Scott Pattee, water supply specialist for 
the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service.

It's too early to know if those conditions will continue for the rest of 
the winter, but weather forecasters predict above-average temperatures 
through March, he said.

That could present challenges for water managers and water users later 
this summer, who rely on mountain snowpack to feed rivers and streams 
and fill lakes and reservoirs as it melts. Seventy to 80 percent of 
Washington's surface water supplies come from mountain snowmelt in the 
summer.

After above-average precipitation in October and heavy snowfall in 
November, Washington was on track for a good winter, Pattee said.

"But come December, Mother Nature just turned the faucet off," he said. 
"Typically, by this time, we should have a solid 50 percent of our 
snowpack on the ground and we're 10-15 percent behind on that right now."

Last month, the Pacific Northwest experienced the 14th-coldest December 
since 1895. It was also the 11th-driest December for Washington state.

In Eastern Washington, snowpack levels ranged from 56 percent of average 
in the Spokane River basin to 89 percent of average in the Walla Walla 
area. West of the Cascades, snowpack in the central Puget Sound area 
registered at 72 percent of average, while the Olympic Peninsula came in 
at 123 percent of average.
----------------------------------------------


It's too early to say for sure, but this could turn out to be a good 
year for southbounders. Stay tuned..

Tom "Bullfrog" Griffin
Seattle

>Date: Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:31:41 -0600
>From: "CHARLES  MILLER" <chuck-miller at earthlink.net>
>Subject: [pct-l] Washington Snow Year
>
>
>How is the snow depth going in Washington so far this year?  Does the year appear average, or more, or less. 
>
>I know no one knows what will happen the next months, but how does it look so far?
>
>Thanks for any ideas,
>Tex
>
>  
>