Thursday, March 14, 2019

Snow Pack Up & Melt Down !!

GREAT SNOW PACK
Hydrologic Alert
will it last ?
WALLPAPER:  MELT DOWN
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.. The high school kids are wearing shorts today. They are playing their favorite Spring game . . . "SPLASH YOUR BUDDY."
MELTED SNOW = PUDDLES
.. Our snow pack is in great shape and still showing some signs of getting better. Snow water content is up as is the snow depth.
.. Now the wait and watch game begins, [SEE MAPS HERE.]
.. We and, most of this part of the state are under an 'hydrologic alert.' this just means that it is getting too warm for the snow to remain snow.
STILL BIG PILES OF SNOW
.. Eighteen counties are being affected by this warm weather surge.
.. We, (up here in the village,) will soon be looking at 50°F. As you move down slope the temperature will increase.
.. The low level snow pack is melting as we write this. It will melt faster or slower relative to local over night temperatures.
SNOWMOBILES IN TRUCKS
.. Depending on the persistence and amount of warming, there will be a discharge event in the rivers of greater or lessor magnitude.
.. In some years the mid level snow pack melts so fast that it is meaningless for river conditions when Summer arrives.
. . We hope that it cools down and, that Spring brings a more moderate transition than is happening right now.
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.. We have a city ordinance that requires a 6" bed of snow on the city streets to facilitate safe riding of snowmobiles in town. Right now the city crews are putting snow on the roads to keep them safe - a highly unusual condition, indeed.
DON'T GET USED TO IT
.. You can keep track of the melting and the flooding around the area  HERE.
.. The folks down in Ennis, Montana are moving equipment, livestock, lawn mowers and, other stuff away from low lying areas. It's a Spring ritual across our part of the world.
.. Given the amount of moisture supplied by the current mid latitude cyclonic storm and, the current upslope warming, we anticipate newspaper headlines for the lowlands, across the country, in the next few weeks.
.. Snowfall is not over for this spring. Locally, we have a recorded snowfall for any and every day of the year. There will be more to come.
.. The Summer river flows are now in a condition of constraint. How much snow plus how much warm will give the answer.
.. Stay tuned, we'll keep you informed.
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VERY RARE PAVEMENT SLEDS
.. Right around the corner preparations are underway for the great mudfest known as "Snowmobile Expo." Happily the race track has been the recipient of the snow cleaned from our streets during the winter. The races will go on.
.. Approach to the race track from town is facilitated through our alleys. It is easier to steer a sled on mud, slush, shadow snow and, gravel than it is on the paved streets.
P.S. FISH NOW OR WAIT A SPELL!
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WALLPAPER:  A CHOCOLATE ERUPTION