Massive storms have changed water picture

A series of rain and snowstorms since the end of November has made a significant change in the water status in San Juan County. The status of the snow pack in the Abajo and La Sal mountains has changed from little or no snow two weeks ago to water levels approaching 175 percent of normal in the La Sals and exceeding 180 percent of normal in the Abajos.

Monticello has received nearly 4.5 inches of water in the recent storms, moving the year to date precipitation (water year begins October 1) from 31 percent of normal to roughly 140 percent of normal.

In Blanding, the year to date precipitation has moved from 50 percent of normal to roughly 200 percent of normal.

Warmer than normal temperatures may have masked the impact of the storms because the precipitation has come largely in the form of rain rather than snow.

The general rule of thumb for winter storms is that there is one inch of snow for every tenth of an inch of precipitation. If that were the case in these storms, Camp Jackson would have five feet of snow, Blanding would have received three feet of snow and Monticello would be buried in nearly four feet of snow since the storms began.