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Missouri Basin Forecasters Meeting – February 20-21, 2013. Cara McCarthy Natural Resources Conservation Service Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecast Program National Water and Climate Center Portland, OR. Picture: Spill at Pathfinder Dam, North Platte River June 2011.
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Missouri Basin Forecasters Meeting – February 20-21, 2013 Cara McCarthy Natural Resources Conservation Service Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecast Program National Water and Climate Center Portland, OR Picture: Spill at Pathfinder Dam, North Platte River June 2011 Entry to Geneva Park Snow Course, South Platte, for February 1st, 2013 Measurement, 60% of Normal
Water Supply Forecasts/Current Conditions • A SNOTEL site you should not use for SWE • Snow Course Reductions • Change to 1981-2010 SWE Medians Sawtooth Snow Course, South Platte Feb 1st Measurement
February 1, 2013 Snow Water Equivalent as % of Normal (Median)
SNOTEL Month-to-Date Precipitation % of Normal February 18, 2013
Change in SNOTEL Snow Water Equivalent since February 1 Feb 18, 2013 SWE % Normal Feb 1, 2013 SWE % of Normal
Month-to-Date Guidance Forecast Change as Percent of 1981-2010 Normal Feb 18, 2013
39 Snow Course Reductions in Montana DCO Area Bear Basin Snow Course 2006
New Normals this Year • Every decade the 30 year normals change periods. • This year we go from the 1971-2000 period to the 1981-2010 period. • The change is meant to keep pace with current climatic conditions as the most recent years are said to represent the current conditions. • Most data types are calculated as a straight average except Snow Water Equivalent which is “median” or “middle value”
Lewis Lake Divide SNOTEL Site Yellowstone NP January 16, 2013
Questions? www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov