June 8, 2016 (Micro-Briefing)
- May's moisture was distributed unevenly across our region, but was above-normal overall, led by southwestern Wyoming, far northeastern Utah, and far northwestern Colorado recording >200% of normal precipitation.
- While most SNOTEL sites have melted out, the higher-elevation sites indicate that the remaining late-season snowpack is above normal in Colorado and central and southern Wyoming, with below-normal conditions elsewhere. Warm temperatures and rapid snowmelt this week are leading to peak seasonal flows on many streams and rivers.
- With the heavy May precipitation over the Green River Basin, the June 1 spring-summer runoff forecasts from CBRFC improved dramatically from the May 1 forecasts for forecast points within and below the basin. The CBRFC forecast for Lake Powell inflows improved from 5500 KAF (77% of average) to 6500 KAF (91% of average).
- The El Niño event is rapidly weakening, with ENSO forecasts indicating a 75% chance of La Niña conditions during the coming fall and winter. The June–August CPC seasonal outlook shows a slight to moderate wet tilt for our region.