ST. GEORGE — Record snowpack levels measured in the mountains of Washington and Iron counties are wowing not only snowboarders and skiers, but the state's water managers as well.
"My guess is that we're going to have a long, high, big spring runoff," said Ron Thompson, director of the Washington County Water Conservancy District, on a warm Friday afternoon. "We're starting to see some snowmelt right now. As long as we don't get rain on it, I think we'll have a big spring runoff with little flooding."
Snowpack levels at various measurement sites around the southern region of the state are breaking records, he added.
One site, located at the top of the Sevier drainage system above Cedar City, is loaded with 58 inches of water in about 11 feet of snowpack, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Snowtel Web site.
Snowpack at Kolob Mountain, which lies just north of Zion National Park in the Virgin River drainage system, is holding 27 inches of water in about 114 inches of snowpack — 340 percent of normal, Thompson said.
Above St. George and Santa Clara in the Pine Valley Mountains, there are five feet of snowpack containing about 22 inches of water, which prompts worries of spring flooding for many who live downstream.
"We're starting to see some of that melt right now. It's been above freezing at night, so it's starting to come down," Thompson said.
Randy Julander, NRCS Snow Survey Manager, said recently that spring flooding is expected in numerous locations around the state.
"Due to the large volume of mountain snowpacks, several locations throughout Utah are currently experiencing an increased flood potential from spring snowmelt runoff," said Julander in a March 4 report of the state's water outlook. The information is in an extended streamflow forecast. "With one month left in the normal snowpack accumulation season, we are all reminded of what happened last March. It was very warm and dry," said Julander in the report. "The flood potential may change depending on the spring climate. If the climate becomes warmer and drier throughout the end of May, expect the flood threat to diminish. If it becomes colder and wetter, expect the flood threat to increase."
Temperatures are expected to stay warm in Utah's Dixie for the next few days, with a high of 81 predicted for today, according to the National Weather Service. Showers are also possible, however, on Monday when temperatures are expected to drop to the mid-60s, according to the weather service.
It's the thought of more rain on top of a heavy snowpack sitting on saturated ground that worries people the most, Thompson said.
"We'll have to wait and see if my prediction for spring runoff is right or not," he said.
E-mail: nperkins@desnews.com