Wyoming Snowmelt Well Above Average for Much of the State
The water situation across the state of Wyoming will be generally very good this summer, but in some places, too good. Due to a heavy snowpack in some parts of the state, the snowmelt will produce some flooding.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has issued their last snowpack and snowmelt report for the year, and it shows what is called the "snow water equivalents" of SWE's for the central part of Wyoming across to the west are much above average.
The SWE's for the southeastern part of the state are below average, but are still at 75-90% of the average level. Here are the highlights of the report...
HIGHLIGHTS:
…High potential for flooding associated with snowmelt is expected over several basins across the Little and Big Wind Watersheds…
…High potential for flooding associated with snowmelt is expected over several basins of the Upper Green Basin…
…Moderate to High potential for snowmelt flooding is expected over headwater basins of the Snake River Drainage (to include the Salt River Drainage)…
…Moderate to High potential for flooding due to snowmelt is expected over portions of the North and South Forks of the Shoshone River Basin…
…Moderate to High potential for snowmelt flooding is predicted over portions of the of the Sweetwater River Watershed…
…Moderate potential for flooding associated with snowmelt is also expected across the upper to middle portions the of the Little and Big Wind Watersheds, the middle to upper portions of the Upper Green Drainage, the lower and/or upper potions of the North/South Forks of the Shoshone Basin, the upper and lower sections of the Upper Bear Watershed, and several basins across the Snake River Watershed.
…All other headwater basins (Upper North Platte, Laramie, Little Snake, Powder, and Tongue Basins) across Wyoming can expect a generally Low potential for flooding due to springtime snowmelt...