The National Climate and Water Center just released this snow water equivalent map that equivically shows how much snowpack is on the ground in the western USA today as a percent of historical average (1981-2010). The map shows what percentage of average many mountain locations are currently experiencing.
The snowpack is looking really good in Lake Tahoe, Flagstaff AZ, & northern Washington. Central Oregon and Colorado are right about average right now. Jackson Hole & the Wasatch are currently below average at 65% of average.
The good news is that it’s still very early and one big storm could get much of the western USA back to average and/or above.
SNOWPACK PERCENTAGE OF AVERAGE RIGHT NOW IN WESTERN USA:
- 556% = Flagstaff, AZ
- 252% = Lake Tahoe, CA
- 148% = Northern Washington (Mt. Baker area), WA
- 142% = Taos, NM
- 100% = Central Oregon (Mt. Bachelor), OR
- 83% = Taos, NM
- 82-103% = Most of the Rocky Mountains, CO
- 64% = Jackson Hole, WY
- 64% = Wasatch Mountains (Alta, Snowbird), UT
