According to the snow-precipitation update released March 20 from the Natural Resources Conservation Service's Water and Climate Center in Portland, Ore., things are indeed white and wet up in the mountains of Washington. Here are the readings from some of the NRCS sites at the following locations:
øSkykomish, Snoqualmie, Baker, Skagit Basin. At Alpine Meadows (3,500-foot elevation) the snow-water equivalent is 148 percent of average, and total precipitation there this year is 159 percent of average. At Stevens Pass (4,070-foot elevation) the snow-water equivalent is 173 percent of average, and total precipitation is 179 percent of average. Basinwide, the snow-water equivalent is 152 percent of average, while the total precipitation is 154 percent of average.
øNooksack Basin. At Elbow Lake (3,200-foot elevation) the snow-water equivalent is 136 percent of average, and total precipitation is 134 percent of average. At Wells Creek (4,200-foot elevation) the snow-water equivalent is lower than usual - 85 percent of average, but total precipitation is 128 percent of average. Basinwide, the snow-water equivalent is 109 percent of average, while total precipitation is 132 percent of average.
øOlympic Basin. At Mount Craig (4,050-foot elevation) the snow-water equivalent is 101 percent of average, and total precipitation is 118 percent of average. Basinwide, those are the same readings for snow-water equivalent and total precipitation.
øEastern Washington. Snow-water equivalents and total precipitation are running higher than usual - anywhere from 151 percent to 182 percent. But on that side of the state, it's a different story. "In terms of irrigation and fish runs, this is good news," said Nissley.
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