Spring Runoff Reality Check - May 7

[cnbowden]

The ~18,000 cfs increase to the San Juan may have been a glitch or a very short lived pulse but it does look like there has been a sustained average increase of 5,000 - 7,500 cfs over the past 24 hours for SJ.

Colorado river has increased ~4,000 cfs and still rising this morning.

Active rain pattern over the next week (afternoon rain/storms) with another more significant rainfall event/low grade monsoon possible Thursday or Friday of next week.

Seems like all of that could be enough to keep flows elevated for at least a week which is great news for the cut.

 

[Fickle River]

Here’s the detail of the San Juan River flash flood that peaked at 20,700 cfs.

Not a data glitch…

 

[Canyon Glen]

Imagine being an ancient resident of the area(pre dams) and experiencing that from the shoreline in Bluff?

 

[Mildog]

The Animas rose by 258% due to Alberto. +-3300 cfs. Headed to the San Juan.

I did see severe storms on weather channel in that area with flash flood warnings ! Maybe there will be some bonus runoff!!?

 

[Outside]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1804351553333268787

 

[SeaLegs]

I'm a bit concerned for my friend that was on a san juan rafting trip this week with his family.

 

[FishnFly]

I'm a bit concerned for my friend that was on a san juan rafting trip this week with his family.

I hope they are ok.

 

[Fickle River]

We did it! The Cut is officially open to power boats at 3583.

The next target is 3585.

 

[Leardriver]

Three more feet and then holding for 2 months would be life changing.

 

[dogslayer24]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1804351553333268787

Assuming this ended up in Powell??!!

 

[caverdan]

From what I've read on the mountain buzz forum, the flooding was extreme at several camps with one camp loosing 5 rafts and another camp loosing 2. If you are boating up the San Juan arm, please keep a look out for both rubber boats and dry bags plus other assorted gear. Post if you find anything and I'll try and help to get it back to the owner.

 

[Hamblin fishing]

I would guess that’s a glitch that will be corrected? Hope it’s real we need more runoff!

I don't think it's a glitch. We were up there fishing when the storm hit Friday afternoon. There was major flash flooding.

 

[Colorado Expat]

Assuming this ended up in Powell??!!

One would presume so, along with quite a lot of mud. It appears that many tributary canyons got a serious sluicing from this recent event.

 

[nzaugg]

KSL reported that the level of the San Juan rose about 10 feet over the course of 15 minutes near Bluff, with water flooding one of the campgrounds along the river. They showed one of those big land yachts driving through the water to try to escape the water.

 

[SeaLegs]

I'm a bit concerned for my friend that was on a san juan rafting trip this week with his family.

They were able to finish their trip after battling the rising waters Friday night. They had to relocate their camp to higher ground that night and found a good spot to secure the rafts. Haven't seen all the videos yet but what I saw so far is crazy.

 

[andrewvbe]

Did the inflows subside or was that some sort of correction?

 

[Boat 405]

Did the inflows subside or was that some sort of correction?

Just another whoops. I imagine it will be corrected in the next couple days, like the last one

 

[Jon.Diedrich]

Yup you nailed it Boat 405. Thank you.

 

[cnbowden]

I know I’m not the only one with access to the weather but hard not to get excited about this 5-day forecast. Should be a similar bump to inflows like we saw last weekend, maybe not quite as extreme in local areas (more distributed). Most of this is falling over the next 48 hours and there are flash flood warnings in effect. More precipitation than usual may fall down stream of other reservoirs, which means higher impact for Lake Powell.

After 5-days who knows but the next 14 days continue to show chances for rain.

 

[iwish]

Play by Play of the San Juan - we just rafted it 3 weeks ago and I can't even imagine the carnage.

San Juan Flash Flood (6/21/24 - 20,700 cfs)

www.mountainbuzz.com