Here in the Roaring Fork Valley the saying is that you don't plant your tomatoes outdoors until the snow is off the "whales tail" on Mt. Sopris. That snow is long gone, but I still wouldn't put out the tomatoes quite yet...
I lived in the lower Roaring Fork Valley for 44 years, much of that in Carbondale. One of the yukigati there was the "Sopris Angel." It appears on the northwest side of Mount Sopris as the snow melts. The appearance of the angel as snow melted was one climate indicator; probably the disappearance as the melt continued was another. I don't live in the valley any more so I can't tell you what it looks like now.
I am not personally familiar with the climate-indicating legends of the "whale's tail" that Ken Neubecker mentioned, but would guess that it's the snowfield between the two peaks of Mt. Sopris. I remember that back in the 80's and 90's it was rare that all of the snow there melted.
I lived in Durango near the college and had a great view of the La Plata mountains. My "gauge" for the Animas river was when the snow in the prominent heart-shaped bowl on Silver Peak (visible from town) was almost gone (or down to a thin band). It was a pretty accurate indicator that the flow in the Animas was going down from that point forward.
On the Grand Mesa north slope there is a treeless spot in the form of South America. Planting doesn’t concern that many since ranching is most common up in Plateau Valley so it’s the run-off that’s the concern more than a freeze. If there’s snow still anywhere on the formation by 4 July watering will be no worry for the year. Looking today some snow is at Columbia, a sliver reaching to northern Brazil with Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Chile and the rest exposed already like it was June. Along north central Wasatch we looked at the snake and the horse forms for reassurance of sufficient water. I have no idea of their condition this year.
Thanks for the writeup. I am curious to see where the allotment % lands for DWCD customers this year. 2021 was so grim. Here are my predictions for this year.
Animas: 1050 cfs on March 28
San Miguel: 258 cfs on Mar 26
Yampa: 2150 cfs on Apr 18
San Juan: 850 cfs on Mar 27
I think the heat wave is getting slightly weaker this weekend, inclement weather is arriving early next week, and so we are generally at peak right now in the SJs. I hope I'm wrong, though!
Here in northern NM I expect the Rio Grande to peak next week at less than 1000cfs at Otowi. Fact is, we may have already peaked and peaked at less than 700cfs but .... just for fun I'm gonna go with 615pm, April 1 at 943cfs. Just to be specific. 🤪
No mountains or snow around me - but the piles of snowplowed snow are all gone! That's my version of snowpack!! Did rake off my flower garden - pansy plants have been green for a couple weeks - even when the snow was still here! Now the rain (sorry folks, I keep reading about how dry things are out there and HOT!)
In Idaho’s Wood River Valley the old rule was not to plant before the snow was gone from the east face of Della, overlooking Hailey. Since it rained to the top all season there is no snow on Della this year. Rain lines 2000’+ higher than normal across the region, valley snowpacks once measured in meters are nonexistent.
Here in the Roaring Fork Valley the saying is that you don't plant your tomatoes outdoors until the snow is off the "whales tail" on Mt. Sopris. That snow is long gone, but I still wouldn't put out the tomatoes quite yet...
Animas river peaks on April 11 at 1125 cfs
Okay, while chanting the ancient mantra, “Little flow, littler boat, littler flow, littlest boat…,”
Animas — 1,468 cfs; 4/11/26
San Juan — 843 cfs; 4/12/26
San Miguel — 563 cfs; 4/13/26
Then, with a few days off to get the raft aired up and shuttle arranged…,
Yampa — 4,127 cfs; 4/18/26
Happy boating everyone, see ya downriver!🚣🏽♀️
I lived in the lower Roaring Fork Valley for 44 years, much of that in Carbondale. One of the yukigati there was the "Sopris Angel." It appears on the northwest side of Mount Sopris as the snow melts. The appearance of the angel as snow melted was one climate indicator; probably the disappearance as the melt continued was another. I don't live in the valley any more so I can't tell you what it looks like now.
I am not personally familiar with the climate-indicating legends of the "whale's tail" that Ken Neubecker mentioned, but would guess that it's the snowfield between the two peaks of Mt. Sopris. I remember that back in the 80's and 90's it was rare that all of the snow there melted.
My peak flow predictions are:
Animas river: 1200 CFS on April 25
San Miguel river: 450 CFS on May 5
Yampa river: 2200 CFS on May 2
San Juan river: 425 CFS on May 5
I lived in Durango near the college and had a great view of the La Plata mountains. My "gauge" for the Animas river was when the snow in the prominent heart-shaped bowl on Silver Peak (visible from town) was almost gone (or down to a thin band). It was a pretty accurate indicator that the flow in the Animas was going down from that point forward.
On the Grand Mesa north slope there is a treeless spot in the form of South America. Planting doesn’t concern that many since ranching is most common up in Plateau Valley so it’s the run-off that’s the concern more than a freeze. If there’s snow still anywhere on the formation by 4 July watering will be no worry for the year. Looking today some snow is at Columbia, a sliver reaching to northern Brazil with Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Chile and the rest exposed already like it was June. Along north central Wasatch we looked at the snake and the horse forms for reassurance of sufficient water. I have no idea of their condition this year.
Thanks for the writeup. I am curious to see where the allotment % lands for DWCD customers this year. 2021 was so grim. Here are my predictions for this year.
Animas: 1050 cfs on March 28
San Miguel: 258 cfs on Mar 26
Yampa: 2150 cfs on Apr 18
San Juan: 850 cfs on Mar 27
I think the heat wave is getting slightly weaker this weekend, inclement weather is arriving early next week, and so we are generally at peak right now in the SJs. I hope I'm wrong, though!
Here in northern NM I expect the Rio Grande to peak next week at less than 1000cfs at Otowi. Fact is, we may have already peaked and peaked at less than 700cfs but .... just for fun I'm gonna go with 615pm, April 1 at 943cfs. Just to be specific. 🤪
No mountains or snow around me - but the piles of snowplowed snow are all gone! That's my version of snowpack!! Did rake off my flower garden - pansy plants have been green for a couple weeks - even when the snow was still here! Now the rain (sorry folks, I keep reading about how dry things are out there and HOT!)
In Idaho’s Wood River Valley the old rule was not to plant before the snow was gone from the east face of Della, overlooking Hailey. Since it rained to the top all season there is no snow on Della this year. Rain lines 2000’+ higher than normal across the region, valley snowpacks once measured in meters are nonexistent.
Peak-June 1, 2026-1500 cfs.