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SALT LAKE CITY -- As raging river threaten many Utah homes, with flood alerts being issued on a near daily basis, Utah officials are concerned about the current snowpack levels.
"It appears to be record snowpack," said Mike Styler, director of Department of Natural Resources. "There will be flooding."
It appears to be record snowpack. There will be flooding.
–Mike Styler
To gain a greater understanding of ongoing water issues in central Utah, lawmakers, the head of natural resources and Lt. Governor Greg Bell decided to get a birds-eye view of some of the areas with the greatest amount of snowpack.
The group planned to look at some of central Utah's reservoirs, specific snowpack levels in the high Uintas and the Yamba River.
"The longer we have this cool, wet weather, the worse the flooding will be," Styler added.
I think we're going to be okay - certainly nothing like we're seeing with the Mississippi.
–Greg Bell
Lt. Governor Bell was a little more optimistic, saying: "I think we're going to be okay - certainly nothing like we're seeing with the Mississippi."
That is the ultimate hope, but according to experts at the National Weather Service, they're casting more doubt on the situation.
Hydrologist Brian Mclnerney believes that Utah is in even worse shape than it was a week or two ago.
Higher level snowpack is now at 250 percent of normal with mid-level snowpack at 300 to 400 percent of normal. According to Mclnerney, these percentages are only expected to increase throughout the week.
"When we get closer into June, the probability of hitting 80 -- possibly 90 degrees with thunderstorm activity -- kind of looms in the distance and that's what we worry about," Mclnerney said.
The best case scenario the experts say we can hope for is a few warm days combined with a few cool days.
E-mail: aadams@ksl.com
