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Dina Freedman ReportingWe're closing in on over three-weeks of above average temperatures; it doesn't feel much like January. Mountain snows and valley rains have been familiar, but what if this spring-like weather continues?
With highs in the 40's and 50's, people out and about, bugs and plants awakening from their winter states, it makes you wonder, does this have a downside?
People are out, even cleaning up after a game of tennis, on bikes, in shorts, it doesn't ring typical of January in Utah. The trees seem slightly confused but experts we talked to said we didn't have much to worry about.
Maggie Shao, USU Extension: "Especially native plants, they've had several hundreds of thousands of years to adapt to the different climate changes so they don't just depend on temperatures for cues for blooming."
Even if some of the blooms start to come out now, they will refreeze again once it gets colder, but not all of the blooms will open so there will still be plenty left when it comes to be actual springtime.
Heavy mountain snows lately are the norm, but mostly valley rain has been a little unusual. Don't worry though, it's not dangerous.
Brian McInerney, NWS Hydrologist: "If we started raining in the range of say 8000 feet consistently throughout the winter time and we didn't augment the snow pack, that would be a problem. Because when spring gets here, the water we had in the form of snow wouldn't be there."
Although, the snow that has fallen recently has had particularly high water content with ratios on the line of one-and a quarter inch of water for every 10 inches of snow.
Brian McInerney: "Right now the snowpack in Utah is more dense than it typically is at this time of the year. If we have a less dense snow pack, then we have less water, so it's actually a better thing that we have higher density."
The warmer weather shouldn't be perceived as a threat, but if it sticks around over a very long time period it would change the way we manage water.
Maggie Shao: "Enjoy it while we have it. Take a walk with your dogs, I'm sure the snow will come."
