Idaho Snowpack Looks Good For Mid-January

A series of wet storms over the past month have greatly improved the snowpack in the Gem state. Corey Loveland with NRCS-Idaho said the numbers are looking really good statewide right now.

“All of the basins are near to above normal. The highlights right now and both the Little Wood and the Raft River basins, which are 135% of normal for the Little Wood and in the Raft River 134% of normal. Upper Snake River basin doing really well there, Henry’s Fork and Teton are near normal.”

Loveland noted even the basins with the lowest numbers currently, are still close to normal for this time of year, which he said is encouraging.

While these snowpack figures are solid, he noted a lot of time remains before the typical peak of the snowpack season, mid-April, so the state will need to continue to see snow in the months to come. Loveland also noted this snowpack, while positive, has not negated the drought and low soil moisture levels we saw to wrap up 2021.

“With this snowpack, it does help drought wise, but I just want to reiterate that we’re not out of the woods. If we continue to receive additional snowpack, then yes, we can replenish the reservoirs and get those topped off, but we still need additional snowpack to get that.”