All low and middle elevation SNOTEL sites have essentially melted out for the year in the Southwest, Intermountain West, southern Rockies and southern Cascades. Snowmelt continues at elevations above 10,000 feet and in northern Rocky Mountain basins. The spring of 2004 has been warmer and drier than normal resulting in reduced May 1 water supply forecast volumes.

Additional Soil Climate Analysis Network (SCAN) Sites Installed

With drought increasing in frequency and intensity, it is critically important to improve our understanding of how soil moisture interacts with climate.  Recently, there have been several additional soil moisture and temperature monitoring sites added to the SCAN data network.   These sites are located in Alaska, Arkansas,  Kansas, Mississippi,  Ohio, and  Virginia.