Great Snowfall, Growers Still Hopeful

A great weekend snowstorm has left goodly amounts of snow in Idaho, from the southern Magic Valley to the Upper Snake River snow basins to the delight of growers who have suffered through four years of low snowpack moisture.

Burley, ID, received one of its best storms in the last three or four winters when a foot of wet snow was dumped in the area. Roads were closed due to drifting and churches cut meetings on Sunday. 

The storm did not leave other areas of the state as well off for moisture, but all areas up the Snake River Valley received good snowfall.

February 9 figures show the Oakley Basin (south of Burley) at 119 percent of average snow/water equivelent for this time of year while total precipitation in the Basin stands at 111 percent of average.

The American Falls Reservoir, always filled first, is 51 percent full, Palisades is at 23 percent, and Jackson Lake at 19 percent.

The Henry's Fork of the Snake River snow totals are at 112 percent of normal snow/water equivelent and 101 percent of average precipitation. The Snake River snow totals above the Palisades Reservoir stand at 98 percent snow/water equivelent and 91 percent average total precipitation.