Remarkable wet weather makes water forecast look favorable

Several weeks of wet weather, culminating in massive storms over the past weekend, has put San Juan County on course for a wet winter and may alleviate drought concerns in the summer.

A dry pattern came to a sudden halt on November 29, 2007, when a series of storms brought significant precipitation to the area. December totals were nearly three times above normal levels in several communities.

The storms have helped to overcome a dry autumn and set the stage for impressive snow pack totals this winter.

The winter snow pack is critical to fill area reservoirs and supply irrigation water. It builds throughout the winter and generally peaks in late March and early April.

The current snow pack at Camp Jackson, in the Abajo Mountains west of Monticello and north of Blanding, carries nearly one foot of water and is already larger than the highest levels in the previous two years.

In fact, in the past 23 years, only the record snow pack in 2005 has been larger at this stage of the winter.

Between January 5 and January 8, the amount of water in the snow pack increased by more than four inches at Camp Jackson.

In addition to being wetter than normal, December, 2007 was significantly colder than normal in several area communities.

Year-to-date precipitation for the water year, which begins October 1, is higher than normal at this point.

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