YUKON SNOW SURVEY BULLETIN & WATER SUPPLY FORECAST March 1, Prepared and issued by: Water Resources Branch Environment Yukon

Transcription

1 YUKON SNOW SURVEY BULLETIN & WATER SUPPLY FORECAST ch 1, 217 Prepared and issued by: Water Resources Branch Environment Yukon

2 PREFACE The Yukon Snow Survey Bulletin and Water Supply Forecast is prepared and issued three times annually after ch 1 st, April 1 st and 1 st by Environment Yukon s Water Resources Branch. The bulletin provides a summary of winter meteorological and streamflow conditions for Yukon, as well as current snow depth and snow water equivalent observations for 57 locations. This information is used to make projections of total volume runoff for the summer period and an estimate of peak flow for the main river basins and sub-basins including the upper and lower Yukon, Pelly, Stewart, Liard, Alsek, Porcupine and Peel Rivers. Information about the bulletin, snowpack conditions or streamflow projections can be obtained by contacting: Jonathan Kolot Anthony Bier Richard owicz Hydrology Technologist Hydrology Technologist Senior Scientist, Hydrology (867) (867) (867) jonathan.kolot@gov.yk.ca anthony.bier@gov.yk.ca richard.janowicz@gov.yk.ca Water Resources Branch, Environment Yukon (867) , toll free (in Yukon): local 3171 Fax: water.resources@gov.yk.ca WATER NETWORK CHANGES for 217 There were no water network changes in 217. This bulletin, as well as earlier editions, is available online at: ISSN X It is recommended that reference to this report be made in the following form: Yukon Snow Survey Bulletin and Water Supply Forecast, ch 1, 217 ch 217 Water Resources Branch Department of Environment Government of Yukon Box 273, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6

3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Yukon Snow Survey Bulletin and Water Supply Forecast is published three times annually: after ch 1 st, April 1 st, and 1 st. The Bulletin forms part of the Yukon Snow Survey Program administered by the Water Resources Branch, Department of Environment, Government of Yukon. Other agencies that contribute significantly to the Snow Survey Program by providing data, assistance and information for the bulletin are: Data Collection Officer, Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture Meteorologist, Wildland Fire Management, Yukon Department of Community Services, Whitehorse Officer in Charge, Water Survey of Canada, Whitehorse Water Management Engineer, Yukon Energy Corporation Agencies cooperating with Environment Yukon in the Snow Survey Program are: B.C. Ministry of Environment, Water Stewardship Division, Parks Canada Yukon Department of Energy Mines and Resources, Compliance Monitoring and Inspections Branch Yukon Department of Environment, Information Management and Technology Branch Yukon Department of Highways and Public Works

4 YUKON TERRITORY SNOWPACK CONDITIONS AND RUNOFF PROJECTION WEATHER The winter period has been subject to frequent Arctic outbreaks and warming periods which, when averaged, have resulted in near normal temperatures throughout most of the territory. Precipitation patterns over the same period were also close to average for most of the territory with the exception of well-below-normal precipitation in Southeastern Yukon. Winter precipitation amounts were also very low in southwestern Yukon with both Burwash Landing and Haines Junction having received less than 7% of normal precipitation. October October ended a long trend of warmer than normal fall weather, with all stations recording freezing temperatures by mid-month except for southwestern regions. Precipitation was well below normal across the entire territory. ember Temperatures during ember were 2 to 3 degrees above normal, with the largest departures in western and southcentral Yukon. Warm upper ridges dominated the first half of the month and Arctic air failed to penetrate further south than Old Crow except for a brief incursion in the third week of the month. Below to near normal precipitation was recorded at most stations except for the extreme southwest region where a series of Pacific storms delivered nearly double the usual precipitation. December The first half of the month was dominated by extremely cold, dry Arctic air and temperatures throughout Yukon were correspondingly cold. Warm moist Pacific air in the second half of the month resulted in the monthly mean temperature of 2 to 3 degrees below normal. Precipitation in the northern half of the territory was near normal while Southwest Yukon received well-below-normal amounts. uary Extreme temperature fluctuations were observed during uary. The month began with a cold Arctic air flow, transitioned to a warm, moist Pacific flow mid-month, and returned to cold temperatures by month s end. On average, temperatures were generally higher than normal, while precipitation was well below normal in southern Yukon and near normal in central and northern Yukon. February While temperatures were lower than normal at the beginning of the month, February experienced extreme warming mid-month accompanied by rain and freezing rain. As a result, precipitation totals were slightly above normal in southwest and south central Yukon, while near normal amounts were recorded in central and northern Yukon and well below normal amounts in southeastern Yukon. Temperatures were slightly warmer than normal throughout the territory. SNOWPACK Data for the ch 1 st Snow Bulletin are incomplete due to a number of remote snow stations not being measured this month. On the whole, the ch 1 st Yukon snowpack was not as variable as in past years. Snowpack values ranged from well below normal in southeastern Yukon, to normal and somewhat below normal in central and southwestern regions, and somewhat above normal in northern regions. STREAMFLOW Streamflow conditions throughout the Yukon are generally above normal with the exception of the Pelly and Liard Rivers which are somewhat below normal. Streamflow during this period represents winter base flow, which provides an indication of winter groundwater contributions.

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8 millimetres of water YUKON RIVER BASIN Snowpack conditions in the Yukon River basin are generally below normal for the month of ch. UPPER YUKON RIVER SUB-BASIN (SOUTHERN LAKES) Snowpack conditions in the upper Yukon River watershed are somewhat below normal. Values range from 73 per cent of normal at Meadow Creek to 112 per cent of normal at Log Cabin. The basin-wide average has been estimated to be 89 per cent of normal. UPPER YUKON RIVER SUB-BASIN (SOUTHERN LAKES/WHITEHORSE) GREATER THAN HISTORICAL MAXIMUM LESS THAN HISTORICAL MINIMUM 1-1-Apr 1- Basin average snowpack based on selected snow courses Mean 217

9 per cent of normal millimetres of water WHITEHORSE AREA Snowpack conditions in the Whitehorse area are below normal for ch 1 st. Values range from 57 per cent of normal at Whitehorse Airport to 95 per cent of normal at Mt. McIntyre B. An area-wide average is estimated to be 8 per cent of normal WHITEHORSE AREA GREATER THAN HISTORICAL MAXIMUM 5 LESS THAN HISTORICAL MINIMUM 1-1-Apr 1- Basin average snowpack based on selected snow courses Mean PRECIPITATION - % OF NORMAL Whitehorse 15 5 Oct Dec Feb Apr Jun ACCUMULATED PRECIP MONTHLY PRECIP

10 DISCHARGE (m 3 /s) YUKON RIVER AT WHITEHORSE AVERAGE FLOW ('4-'16) MEAN MONTHLY FLOW

11 ELEVATION (m) YUKON RIVER and MARSH LAKE The mean elevation of sh Lake during February was m or.355m below normal. Yukon River at Whitehorse mean discharge during February was 11 per cent of normal. Given normal summer meteorological conditions, volume runoff and peak flows for the season are each expected to be 76 and 77 per cent of normal, respectively. MARSH LAKE NEAR WHITEHORSE AVERAGE ELEVATION ('76-'14) MEAN MONTHLY ELEVATION

12 per cent of normal millimetres of water PELLY RIVER SUB-BASIN Snowpack conditions in the Pelly River subbasin were not measured in ch 217. Mean February streamflow for the watershed was 95 per cent of normal as indicated by the Pelly River below Vangorda Creek. Because snow surveys were not carried out, it is not possible to develop projections of volume runoff and peak flows for the basin PELLY BASIN GREATER THAN HISTORICAL MAXIMUM LESS THAN HISTORICAL MINIMUM 1-1-Apr 1- Basin average snowpack based on selected snow courses Mean PRECIPITATION - % OF NORMAL Ross River Oct Dec Feb Apr Jun ACCUMULATED PRECIP MONTHLY PRECIP No precipitation data was reported for the period.

13 DISCHARGE (m 3 /s) PELLY RIVER BELOW VANGORDA CREEK AVERAGE FLOW ('72-'14) MEAN MONTHLY FLOW

14 per cent of normal millimetres of water STEWART RIVER SUB-BASIN Snowpack conditions in the Stewart River watershed are thought to be below normal for ch 1st*. Values of snow water equivalent range from 42 per cent of normal at o Airport A to 86 per cent of normal at Calumet. A basin-wide average has been estimated to be 65 per cent of normal. Mean February streamflow for the watershed was 138 per cent of normal as indicated by the Stewart River at the Mouth. Given normal summer meteorological conditions, volume runoff and peak flows for the season are each expected to be 85 and 9 per cent of normal, respectively. * A key site used to estimate snowpack for this region was not measured in ch STEWART BASIN GREATER THAN HISTORICAL MAXIMUM LESS THAN HISTORICAL MINIMUM 1-1-Apr 1- Basin average snowpack based on selected snow courses Mean PRECIPITATION - % OF NORMAL o 15 5 Oct Dec Feb Apr Jun ACCUMULATED PRECIP MONTHLY PRECIP

15 DISCHARGE (m 3 /s) STEWART RIVER AT THE MOUTH AVERAGE FLOW ('64-'14) MEAN MONTHLY FLOW

16 per cent of normal millimetres of water CENTRAL YUKON RIVER BASIN (CARMACKS AREA) Snowpack conditions in the Carmacks area are thought to be below normal for ch 1st*. * Key sites used to estimate snowpack for this region were not measured in ch CENTRAL YUKON BASIN GREATER THAN HISTORICAL MAXIMUM 5 LESS THAN HISTORICAL MINIMUM 1-1-Apr 1- Basin average snowpack based on selected snow courses Mean 217 PRECIPITATION - % OF NORMAL Carmacks Oct Dec Feb Apr Jun ACCUMULATED PRECIP MONTHLY PRECIP

17 per cent of normal millimetres of water LOWER YUKON RIVER BASIN (DAWSON AREA) Snowpack conditions in the Dawson area are below normal for ch 1 st. Values of snow water equivalent range from 81 per cent of normal at Midnight Dome to 89 per cent of normal at King Solomon Dome. An area-wide average has been estimated to be 84 per cent of normal LOWER YUKON BASIN GREATER THAN HISTORICAL MAXIMUM 5 LESS THAN HISTORICAL MINIMUM 1-1-Apr 1- Basin average snowpack based on selected snow courses Mean PRECIPITATION - % OF NORMAL Dawson 15 5 Oct Dec Feb Apr Jun ACCUMULATED PRECIP MONTHLY PRECIP

18 per cent of normal millimetres of water LIARD RIVER BASIN Snowpack conditions within the Liard River watershed are well below normal. Values of snow water equivalent range from 39 per cent of normal at Pine Lake Airstrip to 83 per cent of normal at Hyland River. A basin-wide average has been estimated to be 51 per cent of normal LIARD BASIN GREATER THAN HISTORICAL MAXIMUM Mean February streamflow for the Liard River upstream of Upper Liard was 76 per cent of normal. Given normal summer meteorological conditions, volume runoff and peak flows for the season are expected to be 65 per cent and 7 per cent of normal, respectively LOWER THAN HISTORICAL MINIMUM 1-1-Apr 1- Basin average snowpack based on selected snow courses Mean PRECIPITATION - % OF NORMAL Watson Lake 15 5 Oct Dec Feb Apr Jun ACCUMULATED PRECIP MONTHLY PRECIP

19 DISCHARGE (m 3 /s) LIARD RIVER AT UPPER CROSSING AVERAGE FLOW ('6-'14) MEAN MONTHLY FLOW

20 per cent of normal millimetres of water ALSEK RIVER BASIN Snowpack conditions within the Alsek River watershed are slightly below normal for ch 1 st. Values of snow water equivalent range from 81 per cent of normal at Alder Creek to 11 per cent of normal at Summit. A basin-wide average has been estimated to be 93 per cent of normal. Mean monthly streamflow for February as indicated by the Alsek River above Bates River was 132 per cent of normal. The Alsek River is primarily a glacial regime type, which is largely dependent on summer temperatures. Given normal summer meteorological conditions, volume runoff and peak flows for the season are expected to be 9 and 95 per cent of normal, respectively ALSEK BASIN GREATER THAN HISTORICAL MAXIMUM LESS THAN HISTORICAL MINIMUM 1-1-Apr 1- Basin average snowpack based on selected snow courses Mean PRECIPITATION - % OF NORMAL Haines Junction Oct Dec Feb Apr Jun ACCUMULATED PRECIP MONTHLY PRECIP

21 DISCHARGE (m 3 /s) ALSEK RIVER ABOVE BATES RIVER AVERAGE FLOW ('74-'13) MEAN MONTHLY FLOW

22 DISCHARGE (m 3 /s) millimetres of water PEEL RIVER BASIN Snowpack conditions in the Peel River watershed are slightly above normal with values of snow water equivalent ranging from 17 per cent of normal at Ogilvie to 115 per cent of normal at Blackstone. A basinwide average has been estimated to be 111 per cent of normal. Mean monthly streamflow for February as indicated by the Peel River above Canyon Creek station was 179 per cent of normal. Given normal summer meteorological conditions, volume runoff and peak flows for the season are expected to be 15 and 11 per cent of normal, respectively PEEL BASIN GREATER THAN HISTORICAL MAXIMUM LESS THAN HISTORICAL MINIMUM 1-1-Apr 1- Basin average snowpack based on selected snow courses Mean 217 PEEL RIVER ABOVE CANYON CREEK AVERAGE FLOW ('62-'14) MEAN MONTHLY FLOW

23 DISCHARGE (m 3 /s) millimetres of water PORCUPINE RIVER BASIN Snowpack conditions in the Porcupine River watershed are estimated to be somewhat above with values ranging from 11 per cent of normal at Eagle River to 112 per cent of normal at Eagle Plains. A basin-wide average could not be estimated on account of a key station not having been measured in ch PORCUPINE BASIN GREATER THAN HISTORICAL MAXIMUM Mean February streamflow for the basin as indicated by the Porcupine River near the International Boundary is 149 per cent of normal. There is no flow forecast available for ch 1 st. 5 LESS THAN HISTORICAL MINIMUM 1-1-Apr 1- Basin average snowpack based on selected snow courses Mean 217 PORCUPINE RIVER NEAR INTERNATIONAL BORDER AVERAGE FLOW ('87-'14) MEAN MONTHLY FLOW

24 Drainage Basin and Snow Course For Sample Date: This Year Water Content Name Number Elev Date of Snow Water Last Average Yrs (m) Survey Depth Content Year of (cm) (mm) (mm) (mm) Rec Alsek River Basin Canyon Lake 8AA-SC Alder Creek 8AA-SC Aishihik Lake 8AA-SC E Haines Junction Farm 8AA-SC Summit 8AB-SC Yukon River Basin Tagish 9AA-SC Montana Mountain 9AA-SC Log Cabin (B.C.) 9AA-SC B Atlin (B.C) 9AA-SC Mt McIntyre B 9AB-SC1B Whitehorse Airport 9AB-SC Meadow Creek 9AD-SC Jordan Lake 9AD-SC2 93 No Survey N.S Morley Lake 9AE-SC Mount Berdoe 9AH-SC Satasha Lake 9AH-SC3 116 No Survey Williams Creek 9AH-SC4 914 No Survey Twin Creeks A 9BA-SC2A 9 No Survey Twin Creeks B 9BA-SC2B 9 No Survey Hoole River 9BA-SC3 136 No Survey N.S Burns Lake 9BA-SC No Survey N.S Finlayson Airstrip 9BA-SC Fuller Lake 9BB-SC No Survey N.S Russell Lake 9BB-SC4 16 No Survey Rose Creek 9BC-SC Mount Nansen 9CA-SC1 121 No Survey MacIntosh 9CA-SC2 116 No Survey Burwash Airstrip 9CA-SC Beaver Creek 9CB-SC Chair Mountain 9CB-SC E Casino Creek 9CD-SC1 165 No Survey Pelly Farm 9CD-SC Plata Airstrip 9DA-SC1 83 No Survey N.S Withers Lake 9DB-SC1 975 No Survey Rackla Lake 9DB-SC2 14 No Survey Code "E" - Estimate, Code "B" - Survey date is outside of valid sampling range

25 Drainage Basin and Snow Course For Sample Date: This Year Water Content Name Number Elev Date of Snow Water Last Average Yrs (m) Survey Depth Content Year of (cm) (mm) (mm) (mm) Rec Yukon River Basin o Airport A 9DC-SC1A o Airport B 9DC-SC1B Edwards Lake 9DC-SC2 83 No Survey Calumet 9DD-SC King Solomon Dome 9EA-SC Grizzly Creek 9EA-SC Midnight Dome 9EB-SC Boundary (Alaska) 9EC-SC Porcupine River Basin Riff's Ridge 9FA-SC Eagle Plains 9FB-SC Eagle River 9FB-SC Old Crow 9FD-SC1 299 No Survey N.S Liard River Basin Watson Lake Airport 1AA-SC Tintina Airstrip 1AA-SC2 167 No Survey N.S Pine Lake Airstrip 1AA-SC Ford Lake 1AA-SC4 111 No Survey N.S Frances River 1AB-SC Hyland River 1AD-SC Peel River Basin Blackstone River 1MA-SC Ogilvie River 1MA-SC Bonnet Plume Lake 1MB-SC1 112 No Survey Alaska Snow Courses Eaglecrest 8AK-SC Moore Creek Bridge 8AK-SC Code "E" - Estimate, Code "B" - Survey date is outside of valid sampling range

26 INDEX OF YUKON SNOW COURSES NAME NUMBER ELEVATION (m) LATITUDE LONGITUDE AGENCY YUKON RIVER BASIN Tagish 9AA-SC o 17' 134 o 11' 2 Montana Mountain 9AA-SC o 8' 134 o 44' 2 Log Cabin (B.C.) 9AA-SC o 46' 134 o 58' 2 Atlin (B.C.) 9AA-SC o 34' 133 o 42' 3 Mt. McIntyre (B) 9AB-SC1B o 39' 135 o 8' 1 Whitehorse Airport 9AB-SC2 7 6 o 42' 135 o 4' 1 Meadow Creek 9AD-SC o 35' 133 o 5' 2 Jordan Lake 9AD-SC o 52' 132 o 5' 2 Morley Lake 9AE-SC o ' 132 o 7' 2 Mount Berdoe 9AH-SC o 2' 136 o 14' 2 Satasha Lake 9AH-SC o 29' 136 o 16' 2 Williams Creek 9AH-SC o 21' 136 o 43' 2 Twin Creeks 9BA-SC o 37' 131 o 16' 2 Hoole River 9BA-SC o 32' 131 o 36' 2 Burns Lake 9BA-SC o 17' 129 o 57' 2 Finlayson Airstrip 9BA-SC o 42' 13 o 46' 2 Fuller Lake 9BB-SC o 58' 13 o 46' 2 Rose Creek 9BC-SC o 2' 133 o 23' 2 Russell Lake 9BB-SC o 12' 133 o 29' 2 Mount Nansen 9CA-SC o 2' 137 o 3' 2 Macintosh 9CA-SC o 43' 137 o 2' 2 Burwash Airstrip 9CA-SC o 23' 139 o 3' 2 Duke River 9CA-SC o 15' 138 o 59' X Beaver Creek 9CB-SC o 25' 14 o 51' 2 Chair Mountain 9CB-SC o 4' 14 o 48' 2 White River 9CB-SC o 55' 14 o 32' X Casino Creek 9CD-SC o 44' 138 o 48' 2 Pelly Farm 9CD-SC o 5' 137 o 2' 8 Plata Airstrip 9DA-SC o 31' 132 o 3' 2 Arrowhead Lake 9DA-SC o 42' 131 o 1' X Withers Lake 9DB-SC o 59' 132 o 18' 2 Rackla Lake 9DB-SC o 17' 133 o 15' 2 o Airport (A) 9DC-SC1A o 38' 135 o 53' 2 o Airport (B) 9DC-SC1B o 38' 135 o 53' 2 Edwards Lake 9DC-SC o 42' 134 o 18' 2 Calumet 9DD-SC o 55' 135 o 24' 2 King Solomon Dome 9EA-SC o 52' 138 o 56' 2 Grizzly Creek 9EA-SC o 26' 138 o 16 2 Boundary (Alaska) 9EC-SC o 5' 141 o 27' 4 Midnight Dome 9EB-SC o 4' 139 o 24' 2

27 NAME NUMBER ELEVATION (m) LATITUDE LONGITUDE AGENCY LIARD RIVER BASIN Watson Lake Airport 1AA-SC o 7' 128 o 5' 2 Tintina Airstrip 1AA-SC o 5' 131 o 15' 2 Pine Lake Airstrip 1AA-SC o 6' 13 o 56' 2 Ford Lake 1AA-SC o 47' 131 o 28' 2 Frances River 1AB-SC o 35' 129 o 11' 2 Hyland River 1AD-SC o 31' 128 o 16' 2 ALSEK RIVER BASIN Canyon Lake 8AA-SC o 7' 136 o 59' 7 Alder Creek 8AA-SC o 22' 137 o 6' 2 Aishihik Lake 8AA-SC o 12' 137 o ' 7 Haines Junction Farm 8AA-SC o 45' 137 o 34' 2 Clay Creek 8AB-SC o 9' 137 o 56' X Summit 8AB-SC3 6 o 51' 137 o 47' 2 Profile Mountain 8AB-SC4 9 6 o 38' 137 o 56' X PEEL RIVER BASIN Blackstone River 1MA-SC o 57' 138 o 15' 2 Ogilvie River 1MA-SC o 21' 138 o 18' 2 Bonnet Plume Lake 1MB-SC o 18' 132 o ' 2 PORCUPINE RIVER BASIN Riff's Ridge 9FA-SC o 57' 137 o 22' 2 Eagle Plains 9FB-SC o 22' 136 o 44' 2 Eagle River 9FB-SC o 27' 136 o 43' 2 Old Crow 9FD-SC o 34' 139 o 51' 6 ALASKA SNOW COURSES Eaglecrest 34J o 17' 134 o 32' 4 Moore Creek Bridge 34K o 31' 135 o 15' 4 Numbers refer to Agencies cooperating in the Yukon Snow Survey: 1. Yukon Department of Environment 2. Yukon Department of Energy Mines and Resources 3. British Columbia Ministry of Environment 4. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service 5. Yukon Department of Highways and Public Works 6. Parks Canada 7. Yukon Energy Corp. 8. Private Contract X Inactive

28 Location of Water Resource Snow Courses