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The snowpack in Utah has ascended into the realm of historic proportions, as the latest data reveals that the water volume currently present in the state’s snowpack has exceeded all previous levels recorded in March since the inception of data collection in the late 1970s.

Utah currently boasts a network of 138 SNOTEL (Snow Telemetry) sites across the state, strategically positioned to provide a comprehensive overview of the snowpack situation.

In the words of Troy Brosten, a hydrologist affiliated with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, “In general, if a snowpack receives 20 inches of precipitation, it is deemed a good year. The present measurements reflect a doubling of this metric, which is beyond commendable.”

Brosten specifically alluded to the Atwater SNOTEL site located in proximity to the Alta ski area, which records some of the most remarkable snowpack figures in Utah. “As of now, we have 150 inches of snow depth,” Brosten reported, “or 12-and-a-half feet. This is an unequivocally impressive feat.”

The snow at the Atwater site is incredibly dense and deep, making it arduous for hydrologists to push their measuring equipment all the way to the ground. They must trudge to each SNOTEL site on foot, through snow and slush, to manually calculate the snowpack and verify the precision of automated readings.

The figures thus obtained are critical for water managers, who utilize them to plan summer allotments of water and project reservoir levels. As Utah still has additional time to accumulate snow in the early spring, it could potentially set a new record for snow water equivalent, surpassing the previous high set in the winter of 1982-83.

The water stored in the state’s reservoirs is in dire demand, and a considerable inflow would be highly advantageous. As Brosten stated, “At the conclusion of this runoff period, a plethora of reservoirs will be comfortably filled, benefitting agriculture and summer activities alike.”

Nevertheless, Brosten cautioned that a single winter with above-average snowfall cannot absolve the long-term repercussions of the ongoing drought. Reservoirs such as Lake Powell and Lake Mead would require at least ten years of snowpack seasons to fully recover.