Above Average Snowmelt Predicted

Despite the milder winter we have experienced, the reservoirs in the Bighorn Basin should still experience inflow well above average this spring.
That’s according to the Bureau of Reclamation, which issued its March forecast for runoff predicted through July. April through July inflow to Bighorn Lake is forecast at almost 1.8 million acre feet, which is 152 percent of the 30 year average. And the Shoshone River should bring about a million acre feet into the Buffalo Bill Reservoir – that’s 142 percent of average.
James Fahey with the National Weather Service in Riverton says that January precipitation was 95 to 105 percent of average across the state, with mountain snowpack at 105 to 115 percent of the median. He says that above average streamflow volumes are still forecast across portions of the Wind, Bighorn, Shoshone, and Upper Yellowstone Watersheds, while below normal amounts are expected in the eastern part of the state.
He says reservoir storages across Wyoming remain above average at 115 to 125 percent for this month.