Snowfall boosts local water supplies

Forecast calls for more storms

By TY BEAVER

H&N Staff Writer
January 3, 2008

   January could be a good month to accumulate a snow pack for this year’s warmer and drier months. 

   The Klamath Basin is already above average in precipitation for the water year and on its way to average snowpack levels for this time in the year. Those concerned with local water supplies say the conditions bring both encouragement and cautious optimism. 

   “We’re happy about it, but we’re going to reserve judgment until March,” said Greg Addington, executive director of the Klamath Water Users Association. 

   A wet October is the primary reason the Basin is at 105 percent  of the average for precipitation for the year, said Cecil Lesley, chief of water and lands for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Klamath Falls office. 

Wet pattern 

   In addition, snowpack in the mountains is at 76 percent of average thanks to storms that passed through in the past two weeks. 

   “It’s encouraging and it looks like a wet pattern for the rest of the month,” he said. 

   Sven Nelaimischkies, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Medford ,

said he expected snow pack levels to reach their averages by mid-next week as two

large storm systems sweep across the region.

   Two storm systems expected to move into the Klamath Basin in the coming days could make it difficult for people to travel across the Cascades. 

   Up to eight inches of snow could fall in the Klamath Basin by late Saturday, with the mountains receiving far more. 

   “The Cascades are going to get pounded,” said Sven Nelaimischkies, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Medford . 

   A blizzard warning is already issued for the Mount Shasta and Medicine Lake areas, beginning today. Snow showers were expected to move into the Klamath Basin Friday with two to four inches possible. 

   Another two to four inches is possible Saturday as the storm moves east across the region along Highway 140. 

   Nelaimischkies recommended anyone planning to travel across the mountain passes in the coming week postpone the trip, if possible, because of expected severe weather. 
   

Last January was a good month, but February and March weren’t

   Snow pack at Crater Lake is at 98 percent of average. The park could easily make it to 100 percent as snow is likely to fall much of next week. 

   Addington said he was pleased with information on water supplies, which could have been discouraging in the past because of their effect on irrigation. 

   Past biological opinions on Upper Klamath Lake and the Klamath River could have kept more water out of irrigation when water supplies were average or higher. A new biological opinion is due in April, and Addington said he hopes that situation will be addressed. 

   Still, it’s too early to be too excited about the water year so far, he said. Last year, January was a good month, but February and March were abnormally dry, straining supplies. 

   Addington said he wouldn’t get his hopes up about the water situation until closer to the beginning of the growing season.

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