Spring snow melt underway in Pacific Northwest; runoff volumes mixed

摘要

The spring snow melt and runoff season has begun in the PacificNorthwest. For the water year to date, observed runoff is belownormal in the Upper Columbia River region but largely near or abovenormal in the Snake River Basin, according to data from theNorthwest River Forecast Center.In the center’s final water supply briefing of 2019 last Thursday,hydrologist Geoffrey Walters said this year’s runoff season beganearlier in the year than normal, which means April and May runoffvolumes will contribute more to the overall water supply volume forwater year 2019. “For most of the region, we are in the midst of anearly runoff season, especially above the Columbia River,” Walters said.“The same is true for the Snake River region…partially driven by Aprilprecipitation, which drove up runoff volumes.”