IntermtntClimateSummaryJune2006

• Title: Intermountain West Climate Summary
• Date: 6/22/2006
• Description: Water Availability Task Force Meeting Presentation
• Basin: Statewide
• Drought Mitigation - Doc Type: Presentation

INTERMOUNTAIN WEST CLIMATE SUMMARY, JUNE 2006

Utah Water Availability June 2006

Source: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center

As of June 13, 2006 (Figure 9a) snow water equivalent
(SWE) as a percent of average in Utah was as low as 0% to 80%
at southern stations, and 40% to 80% of average at northern
stations. One station in the northern mountains reported 100 to
120% of average SWE.
Nearly all streamflow sites on the USGS map (Figure 9b)
are in the near normal category (25th to 75th percentile) for this
time of year, with a fe\:v streamflow sites in north central Utah
running above average (76th to > 90th percentile). However, a
few sites in central and eastern Utah are running below average
( 10th to 24th percentile).
According to the Utah Center for Climate and Weather,
(NCDC) the state's average temperature in May was 59.30 F,
3.80 F \:varmer than the 1901-2000 (20th century) average, the
10th warmest May in 112 years. The state's average precipita-
tion, 0.40 inches in May 2006, the 14th driest May on record.

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Figure 9a. Currrent snow water equivalent (SWE) as a percent
of normal for SNOTEL sites in Utah as of June 13, 2006. This
is orovisional data. For current SNOTEL data and plots of
specific sites, see http://www.cbrfc.noaa.gov/snow/snow.cgior
http://www. wcc. n rcs. usda. gov / sn ow /

Notes
Figure 9a shows the SWE as a percent of normal (average)
for SNOTEL sites in Utah. The "7-day average streamflow"
map (Figure 9b) shows the average streamflow conditions for
the past 7 days compared to the same period in past years.
By averaging over the past 7 days, the values on the map
are more indicative of longer-term streamflow conditions than
either the "Real-time streamflow" or the "Daily streamflow"
maps. If a station is categorized in "near normal" or 25th - 75th
percentile class, it means that the streamflows are in the
same range as 25-750/0 of past years. Note that this "normal"
category represents a wide range of flows. Only stations hav-
ing at least 30 years of record are used. Areas containing no
dots indicate locations where flow data for the current day are
temporarily unavailable. The data used to produce this map
are provisional and have not been reviewed or edited. They
may be subject to significant change.

Figure 9b. Utah Percentile Streamflow Conditions
(updated June 11, 2006).

On the Web
- For current maps of SWE as a percent of normal like in Figure 9a, go to: http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/gis/snow.html.
- The Utah SWSI, along with more data about current water supply status for the state, can be found at: http://www.
ut. nrcs. usda. gov /snow/watersupply/.
- The Palmer Drought Index is found on NOAA's drought page: www.drought.noaa.gov
- For current streamflow information from USGS, visit: http://water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/

RECENT CONDITIONS 112