Nine days ago, snow-water-equivalent (SWE) in the Upper Henry’s Fork subwatershed was 91% of the long-term median. Following another large storm that dropped heavy snowfall across the southern part of the state but relatively little across the north, Upper Henry’s Fork SWE has dropped to 89% of median. SWE is 113% of median in the Fall River subwatershed (down from 120% nine days ago) and 123% of median in the Teton River subwatersed (compared with 124% nine days ago). Models hint at a more northerly track for the next round of precipitation, which would help the upper Henry’s Fork.
Graph above shows percent-of-median SWE since November 1 in the three subwatersheds of the Henry’s Fork watershed. Also shown is the percent-of-median SWE for the Henry’s Fork and Teton Basins, as reported in the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) daily snow/precipitation report. Table below shows data for individual sites, as well as the subwatersheds and the NRCS Henry’s Fork and Teton Basins index.
To see how we use raw data from the NRCS SnoTel website to calculate the numbers in the graph and table above, download our SWE methods document. Go to the NRCS interactive map for a great visualization of very high snowpack across the central and southern part of the western United States but below-average snowpack in Montana, north Idaho, and Washington. The upper Henry’s Fork watershed sits at the transition between above-average snowpack to our south and below-average to our north.
If you would like to receive daily updates of this graph and table via email, send a message to Rob at rob@henrysfork.org with “SWE request” in the subject line.