Snow survey data collected last week across Idaho by the Natural Resources Conservation Service show February continued this winter’s trend of below normal precipitation. Near record low winter precipitation has resulted in meager snowpacks across the state that range from 55 to 75% of average.

 The highest snowpacks are along the State’s western and southern edges since they are affected by the major storms hitting the southwestern states. That’s the El Nino weather pattern - where the southwest gets above average snowfall and the Pacific Northwest is dry.

 Idaho’s water supply comes from mountain snowpacks. The majority of reservoir inflows come from snowpacks above 6,000 in southern Idaho and above 4,500 feet in northern Idaho. Given the low snowpacks, runoff will be below normal across the state and irrigation water shortages are predicted in many central, southern and eastern Idaho basins. 

 Ron Abramovich, Water Supply specialist for NRCS says there is one positive: “Luckily we have good reservoir storage this tear so that will help buffer the impacts of the low flow. One last hope to salvage this year’s water supply would be to receive a cool and wet spring,” “Above average precipitation and cool temperatures in April and May would delay snow melt, keeping the snowpack in the high country longer.”