Best snow start to Lake Powell in ten years!

[mesquito_creek]

I have had snow 4 times in the Big Water area! Got dusted again last night…. Historic data looks promising!

 

[cofooter]

We had the same start last year, then it basically stopped snowing for 2 months. Last year was La Nina as well. Hope it does not repeat last year.

 

[$hot]

Don’t worry, they already have a plan to dump it all into the gulf

 

[gmnhra]

Mammoth.... 72 inches in the last 48 hours
Over 300 inches this season...
does not help CO river lakes but sure should help So Cal water issues

 

[mesquito_creek]

Mammoth.... 72 inches in the last 48 hours
Over 300 inches this season...
does not help CO river lakes but sure should help So Cal water issues

It’s helps because those storms head straight to the upper Colorado watershed!

 

[rivermobster]

 

[77charger]

Been going since 86 seen it full and seen it low.Seen it rise 50ft more than previous year too think one year about 2011 it was still coming up in late july into august.I think this year will be one of those.

Provided it keeps up rest of the month which i think it will.Last year dec was a great start but then it stopped snowing this year it hasnt stopped.Last time i went was in 21 was lowest i ever seen by about 30ft easily.

 

[bk2drvr]

As long as it keeps snowing and doesn't stop as has been mentioned this could be an epic rise of Powell this spring. As recent as 2019 Powell rose 60ft. It very well could happen again. Another piece of positive news is the smart people have said that the ground is saturated with water with last summers monsoon season so the spring runnoff won't just go into the ground like it supposedly did in 2021.

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

We would need an ice age to fill these lakes back up.

 

[rivermobster]

We would need an ice age to fill these lakes back up.

Is that what happened the First time??

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

Is that what happened the First time??

According to Biden’s environmental scientists, yes.

I’m just saying those lakes are too big for a snow pack over 100% of average to make a real dent in lake levels. You’d need 200% or more over several years probably.

Mead is the largest by volume. Powell just looks bigger as it has the most coastline. The amount of water both need to go to full from where they are now is pretty staggering. I haven’t done the math but maybe enough acre-feet to put one or more western states in a foot of water?

 

[rivermobster]

According to Biden’s environmental scientists, yes.

I keep telling you guys to Stop watching the news, but you just don't listen!!

 

[Flying_Lavey]

It’s helps because those storms head straight to the upper Colorado watershed!

Not the snow in the Sierras. That heads West to the multiple river systems heading into the central valley or to the East (Mammoth water would head East) to the Owen's Valley. A couple mountain ranges between there and the basin.

This map kinda illustrates what I mean.

Redirect Notice

 

[mesquito_creek]

Not the snow in the Sierras. That heads West to the multiple river systems heading into the central valley or to the East (Mammoth water would head East) to the Owen's Valley. A couple mountain ranges between there and the basin.

This map kinda illustrates what I mean.

Redirect Notice

For what its worth, just my observation is that those CA storms have brought me rain in Big Water the next day. Obviously, they give up a lot of their energy and water, but without them we wouldn't be ahead of the avg like we are... I would be nice to see the jet stream perfectly align with the upper CO and dump right on top of Grand Junction, but then @cofooter would be upset about clearing his driveway again. In the mean time we will take what we can get.

 

[DWC]

This guy gets it.

Kevin Kiley on Instagram: "California finds itself in a flood emergency and a drought emergency at the same time. It's an absurdity resulting from a failed government."

13K likes, 688 comments - kevinpkiley on January 11, 2023: "California finds itself in a flood emergency and a drought emergency at the same time. It's an absurdity resulting from a failed government.".

www.instagram.com

 

[FreeBird236]

I have had snow 4 times in the Big Water area! Got dusted again last night…. Historic data looks promising!

View attachment 1188047 View attachment 1188046

That graph will be even higher tomorrow, and another storm is still coming, like was said, just hope it continues.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

We would need an ice age to fill these lakes back up.

Nope, just stop letting more out when what flows in.

 

[FreeBird236]

This guy gets it.

Kevin Kiley on Instagram: "California finds itself in a flood emergency and a drought emergency at the same time. It's an absurdity resulting from a failed government."

13K likes, 688 comments - kevinpkiley on January 11, 2023: "California finds itself in a flood emergency and a drought emergency at the same time. It's an absurdity resulting from a failed government.".

www.instagram.com

Screw the water, we're getting a train.

 

[cofooter]

For what its worth, just my observation is that those CA storms have brought me rain in Big Water the next day. Obviously, they give up a lot of their energy and water, but without them we wouldn't be ahead of the avg like we are... I would be nice to see the jet stream perfectly align with the upper CO and dump right on top of Grand Junction, but then @cofooter would be upset about clearing his driveway again. In the mean time we will take what we can get.

I'm a skier, I want all we can get. Those big pacific storms mostly broke up as they headed East. We're getting a bit out of each of those storms, but nothing big.

I will say it is a lot less windy this year than it was last year. The wind last year was due to the the jet stream pushing farther north. Maybe we're on a better track this year to get more snow in Colorado.

 

[Flying_Lavey]

For what its worth, just my observation is that those CA storms have brought me rain in Big Water the next day. Obviously, they give up a lot of their energy and water, but without them we wouldn't be ahead of the avg like we are... I would be nice to see the jet stream perfectly align with the upper CO and dump right on top of Grand Junction, but then @cofooter would be upset about clearing his driveway again. In the mean time we will take what we can get.

Oh yeah, absolutely. I was just referring to the snow in the Sierras doesnt get to the Colorado at all. But the storm that brought it sure does.

 

[retaocleg]

openinng the outflow gates to 100 in............3...2...1
got to keep the message in tact............

 

[Englewood]

Nope, just stop letting more out when what flows in.

WHAT A CONCEPT! Too many Ivy Leaguers and politicians involved making it a mess.

Wake me up when Mead goes under the last intake...Won't happen.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

WHAT A CONCEPT! Too many Ivy Leaguers and politicians involved making it a mess.

Wake me up when Mead goes under the last intake...Won't happen.

It will just hover there forever… regardless of weather

 

[Gonefishin5555]

The water situation is totally fucked. It seems like current govt solution is that since we have two half empty lakes it would be a whole lot better to drain one and keep the other one near full.

 

[mesquito_creek]

When lake Powell is full it’s like a girl with 30 tits… All the guys on RDP don’t know what to do with the 2 tits their girl has now…

 

[cofooter]

Woke up to 9" of new and blue sky at Copper this AM, Breck got 15", pretty good littlecstorm.

 

[Nanu/Nanu]

I love boobs and i love lake Powell!!!!

Keep on coming with the snow!!

 

[mesquito_creek]

I love boobs and i love lake Powell!!!!

Keep on coming with the snow!!

More snow last night! Yay!

 

[2Driver]

Got dumped on at the canyon Saturday night.

The earth does what it wants. Nothing is wrong just because it’s not doing what humans like.

 

[cofooter]

Decided to head south for three days this week. Another powder day and it dumped all day. And this is the second storm this week. Mountains in the San Juan drainage just southwest of here are getting clobbered. It's been a pretty epic year so far, best in a long time, hope it keeps up!!

 

[D19]

Southern CA has catch basin/ damns everywhere and they don't hold rainwater. Glendora, Brea, Claremont, Upland and the list goes on. I do a lot of trail running through the foothills, especially in the winter and when I pass these damns, even after heavy storms, they are always dry. Maybe there's something I don't understand. They are all federally owned.

 

[mbrown2]

Decided to head south for three days this week. Another powder day and it dumped all day. And this is the second storm this week. Mountains in the San Juan drainage just southwest of here are getting clobbered. It's been a pretty epic year so far, best in a long time, hope it keeps up!!

This is key...we need the western slopes getting dumped on... Mammoth is fun to snowboard and the sierra fed lakes but unless the western slopes of the rockies are getting hammered the colorado river continues to be at risk...

 

[Racey]

Duck Creek, Strawberry Valley been getting hammered

 

[Racer56]

Southern CA has catch basin/ damns everywhere and they don't hold rainwater. Glendora, Brea, Claremont, Upland and the list goes on. I do a lot of trail running through the foothills, especially in the winter and when I pass these damns, even after heavy storms, they are always dry. Maybe there's something I don't understand. They are all federally owned.

They are settling ponds to replenish ground water storage.

 

[hman442]

You guys do know that the lakes will not fill, as long as we are still cooking with gas stoves.

 

[SJP]

I have been in Park City the last 3 weeks. We have been getting dumped on almost daily. There is a crazy amount of snow out here. Best in years.

 

[bonesfab]

I have been in Park City the last 3 weeks. We have been getting dumped on almost daily. There is a crazy amount of snow out here. Best in years.

View attachment 1190394

HIs and hers jacuzzi's?

 

[rivermobster]

You guys do know that the lakes will not fill, as long as we are still cooking with gas stoves.

And drinking coffee!

 

[RCDave]

Powell usually doesnt begin the rise until spring....the media forgets the mention that!

 

[SJP]

HIs and hers jacuzzi's?

I prefer mine and theirs (my boys)

 

[mesquito_creek]

We got more snow than I have ever seen last night at my place at Powell… these pictures are after a full day of sun!!

 

[cofooter]

Colorado is good, but Utah is KILLING it. A neighbor just got back from a ski week there and said it snowed 80" in that week. A lot of this snowmelt flows into the Green River which joins the Colorado river in Southern Utah. If you recall, Utah was WAY behind last year.

 

[Terminal Velocity]

Colorado is good, but Utah is KILLING it. A neighbor just got back from a ski week there and said it snowed 80" in that week. A lot of this snowmelt flows into the Green River which joins the Colorado river in Southern Utah. If you recall, Utah was WAY behind last year.

View attachment 1191116

yep, were getting consistent storms. Just hope it doesn't peter out and they keep coming. Last year was looking good into December and then it shit the bed January-March with warmer temps and no storms. I'm one of those that wants a Buffalo New York type 4' overnight storm in the valley of Salt Lake...Because the Rocky Mountains "feet" would be epic.

 

[cofooter]

It keeps coming on the regular! Big winner this week is the San Juan drainage with 2-3 feet!! Headed out in the backcountry today!!!

 

[crzy2bealive]

We should take bets on how high the lake will rise.

I’m going to guess 61 feet.

 

[Nanu/Nanu]

We should take bets on how high the lake will rise.

I’m going to guess 61 feet.

That would be awesome. Im guessing it ends the year 2023 a out 10 ft higher from where it is today

 

[77charger]

Seen it come up more than 50 ft in a year I think this one will pull 45-50 as of now.

Only thing it won’t peak until very end of July or august which is fine.

 

[mesquito_creek]

it would take 35 feet or so to bring the wahweep main launch ramp back into service. But I imagine they would have to commit to holding the lake at that level to make it worthwhile and I am not anticipating that.

The cut is 60 feet away from being useful, so that doesn’t seem very likely.

Having said all that, I had no issues at the current lake levels last year for how I use the lake, so this great water year just hopefully reverses the trend!

 

[cofooter]

MSN

 

[sirbob]

So I read a couple of days ago that all this rain/snow won’t help us in CA because it’s all melted too soon. The article was saying it needs to stay until spring then melt off when we need it in the summer?

I realize that there is evaporation but it seems hard to believe we won’t see any benefit to the snow fall we’ve had out west?