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May 2011 Intermountain West Climate Summary

Summary

Temperature — April temperatures were below average across the entire region, with much of the region at least 4°F cooler than average.
Precipitation — Storm tracks continued to favor the higher parts of the region in western and south-central Wyoming, northern Utah, and western Colorado. Southeastern Colorado remained much drier than average.
Hydrological Conditions — The cool, wet April delayed melt and added to the snowpack across most of the region’s mountains, and very high spring-summer runoff and peak flows are forecast for northern Utah, northern Colorado, and south-central and western Wyoming.
ENSO — The current La Niña has continued to weaken and is transitioning to ENSO-neutral conditions by this summer.
Climate Forecasts — The temperature outlooks from the NOAA CPC indicate an enhanced risk of warmer-than-average temperatures in the southern part of the region in June and subsequent seasons. An enhanced risk of dry conditions is indicated for Wyoming in June and the summer season.

News

Flooding likely in many locations in the Intermountain West during the runoff season.

With above-average to record-high snowpacks in most parts of the region, and snow still
accumulating at high elevations as of late May, high peak flows likely to cause flooding are forecasted in many basins across the region, particularly in northern Utah, northwest Colorado, and southwest Wyoming. Please monitor the peak flow forecasts and/or flood outlooks at the
NOAA NWS River Forecast Centers for the Colorado Basin (http://www.cbrfc.noaa.gov) and Missouri Basin (http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mbrfc).

WWA/CBRFC Streamflow Forecast Workshop - Salt Lake City - June 21
Participants at this workshop will hear about the latest science relevant to the Colorado River and
Great Basin rivers, and will receive training in a computer lab setting on using the new Colorado
Basin River Forecast Center (RFC) online streamflow forecast tool. Participants will also be able
to provide opinions and insight directly to the developers so the RFC can improve the tool. For more information and to register, go to the workshop web page
(http://wwa.colorado.edu/water_management_and_drought/streamflow_workshop_slc.php).

CWCB Municipal Drought Planning Workshops - multiple Colorado locations - May and June
The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) is presenting several all-day interactive workshops around the state designed to help participants understand and use new and innovative resources for improved drought planning. Participants from both the public and private sectors
are welcome. The remaining workshop dates and locations are June 2nd - Denver (full as of May 25); June 14th - Glenwood Springs; June 15th - Steamboat Springs; June 28th - Colorado
Springs. For more information and to register, go to the workshops web page at CWCB
(http://cwcb.state.co.us/watermanagement/drought/Pages/MunicipalDroughtPlanningToolboxWorkshopSeries.aspx).

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