SNOFLO


       

Snake River







SNAKE RIVER

RIVER LEVELS
March 2, 2025

Winter Storm Watch
2025-03-04T17:00:00-07:00

...WINTER STORM TO BRING STRONG WINDS AND HEAVY SNOWFALL TO THE FRONT RANGE MOUNTAINS AND EASTERN PLAINS... .A strong storm will move across the state Monday night and Tuesday. Precipitation will begin as rain across the lower elevations and then switch to snow Monday night with all snow by Tuesday morning. Snowfall forecast for areas along and north of I-76 is highly uncertain due to the storm track and when the change over to snow occurs. Very windy conditions are also expected to develop with this storm with gusts to 60 mph possible over the eastern plains. The strong winds and snowfall will produce considerable blowing and drifting snow with blizzard conditions possible. The worst conditions are expected to be south of Denver over the Palmer Divide and also east of Denver on I-70. Travel in these areas may become very difficult to impossible due to the blowing and drifting snow. For the mountains, snow forms Monday afternoon and will possibly be very heavy late Monday afternoon and evening as the main storm crosses the state. Snow is expected to continue through Tuesday, though the intensity is expected to lighten up. Winds to 60 mph over the higher passes are expected to produce blowing and drifting snow. * WHAT...Heavy snow and blowing snow possible. Total snow accumulations between 4 and 10 inches possible. Wind gusts as high as 60 mph may produce significant blowing and drifting snow. * WHERE...Castle Rock, Byers, Limon, Southern Lincoln County, and Akron. * WHEN...From Monday evening through Tuesday afternoon. * IMPACTS...Snow covered roads will make travel hazardous, with the possibility of very difficult or impossible travel. Visibility may be near zero at times resulting in white out conditions. Travel will be treacherous and potentially life-threatening.


TOTAL RIVER DISCHARGE

Created with Highcharts 8.0.021. Feb22. Feb23. Feb24. Feb25. Feb26. Feb27. Feb28. Feb1. Mar2. Mar050k100k150k

Total streamflow across the Snake River was last observed at 121,751 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 241,490 acre-ft of water today; about 103% of normal. Average streamflow for this time of year is 118,439 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2011-05-27 when daily discharge volume was observed at 763,301 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Snake River Near Anatone reporting a streamflow rate of 35,000 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Snake River At Hells Canyon Dam Id-Or State Line with a gauge stage of 68.09 ft. This river is monitored from 27 different streamgauging stations along the Snake River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 9,326 ft, the Snake River Near Montezuma.

The Snake River is a major river in the United States, stretching over 1,000 miles from Wyoming to Washington, and is a tributary of the Columbia River. The river has a storied history, serving as a vital transportation route for Native Americans and later European settlers. Today, the river is heavily utilized for hydroelectric power, with several large dams and reservoirs along its length, such as the Hells Canyon Dam and the Jackson Lake Dam. These dams have transformed the river into a major source of energy for the region, but have also had significant impacts on the river's ecology and the surrounding landscapes. Additionally, the Snake River and its reservoirs are popular recreational destinations, offering activities such as fishing, boating, and camping. The river also plays a critical role in the region's agricultural sector, providing irrigation for crops and supporting the livelihoods of many farmers and ranchers.

Last Updated 2025-03-02
Discharge Volume 241,490 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 121,751.0 cfs
-2867.0 cfs (-2.3%)
Percent of Normal 102.8%
Maximum 763,301.0 cfs
2011-05-27
Seasonal Avg 118,439 cfs

YEAR OVER YEAR DISCHARGE (CFS)

Created with Highcharts 8.0.01. Jan1. Feb1. Mar1. Apr1. May1. Jun1. Jul1. Aug1. Sep1. Oct1. Nov1. Dec1. Jan0200k400k600k
Streamflow Conditions
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Snake River Near Montezuma
USGS 09047500
7 cfs 1.05 ft -67.2
Snake River Ab Jackson Lake At Flagg Ranch Wy
USGS 13010065
404 cfs 2.57 ft -1.22
Snake River Nr Moran Wy
USGS 13011000
649 cfs 3.26 ft -0.76
Snake River At Moose
USGS 13013650
1010 cfs 9.04 ft 1
Snake River Bl Flat Creek Nr Jackson Wy
USGS 13018750
1430 cfs 1.27 ft -0.69
Snake River Ab Reservoir Nr Alpine Wy
USGS 13022500
2250 cfs 2.93 ft 10.84
Snake River Nr Irwin Id
USGS 13032500
912 cfs 4.51 ft -5.39
Snake River Nr Heise Id
USGS 13037500
11100 cfs 1.58 ft 17.21
Snake River At Lorenzo Id
USGS 13038500
8130 cfs 2.8 ft 24.69
Snake River Nr Menan Id
USGS 13057000
9880 cfs 2.27 ft 15.83
Snake River Ab Eagle Rock Nr Idaho Falls Id
USGS 13057155
8150 cfs 6.03 ft 13.35
Snake River Nr Shelley Id
USGS 13060000
2350 cfs 5.52 ft -1.26
Snake River At Blackfoot Id
USGS 13062500
1940 cfs 4.67 ft -5.37
Snake River Nr Blackfoot Id
USGS 13069500
2020 cfs 2.78 ft -6.91
Snake River At Neeley Id
USGS 13077000
304 cfs 2.01 ft 2.7
Snake R Nr Minidoka Id (At Howells Ferry)
USGS 13081500
435 cfs 2.68 ft 0
Snake River Gaging Station At Milner Id
USGS 13087995
0 cfs 0.81 ft None
Snake River Nr Twin Falls Id
USGS 13090500
370 cfs 1.52 ft 3.93
Snake River Nr Buhl Id
USGS 13094000
1350 cfs 0.64 ft 0
Snake River At King Hill Id
USGS 13154500
6050 cfs 5.64 ft -0.98
Snake River Nr Murphy Id
USGS 13172500
6540 cfs 24.86 ft 0.62
Snake River At Nyssa Or
USGS 13213100
10900 cfs 6.02 ft -11.38
Snake River At Weiser Id
USGS 13269000
22300 cfs 5.66 ft -3.04
Snake River At Hells Canyon Dam Id-Or State Line
USGS 13290450
19200 cfs 68.09 ft 15.85
Snake River Near Pine City
USGS 05338500
319 cfs 3.41 ft 11.93
Snake River Bl Mcduff Rapids At China Gardens
USGS 13317660
29300 cfs 9.18 ft -0.68
Snake River Near Anatone
USGS 13334300
35000 cfs 7.36 ft -0.57
History of the River
Created with Highcharts 8.0.0Annual Peak Discharge(cfs)201020122014201620182020202220242026100k200k400k1M

The Snake River is a major river of the greater Pacific Northwest region in the United States. At 1,078 miles (1,735 km) long, it is the largest tributary of the Columbia River, in turn the largest North American river that empties into the Pacific Ocean. The Snake River rises in western Wyoming, then flows through the Snake River Plain of southern Idaho, the rugged Hells Canyon on the Oregon–Idaho border and the rolling Palouse Hills of Washington, emptying into the Columbia River at the Tri-Cities, Washington.
The Snake River drainage basin encompasses parts of six U.S. states and is known for its varied geologic history. The Snake River Plain was created by a volcanic hotspot which now lies underneath the Snake River headwaters in Yellowstone National Park. Gigantic glacial-retreat flooding episodes that occurred during the previous Ice Age carved out canyons, cliffs and waterfalls along the middle and lower Snake River. Two of these catastrophic flooding events, the Missoula Floods and Bonneville Flood, significantly affected the river and its surroundings.
Prehistoric Native Americans lived along the Snake starting more than 11,000 years ago. Salmon from the Pacific Ocean spawned by the millions in the river, and were a vital resource for people living on the Snake downstream of Shoshone Falls. By the time Lewis and Clark explored the area, the Nez Perce and Shoshone were the dominant Native American groups in the region. Later explorers and fur trappers further changed and used the resources of the Snake River basin. At one point, sign language used by the Shoshones representing weaving baskets was misinterpreted to represent a snake, giving the Snake River its name.By the middle 19th century, the Oregon Trail had become well established, bringing numerous settlers to the Snake River region. Steamboats and railroads moved agricultural products and minerals along the river throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. Starting in the 1890s, fifteen major dams have been built on the Snake River to generate hydroelectricity, enhance navigation, and provide irrigation water. However, these dams blocked salmon migration above Hells Canyon and have led to water quality and environmental issues in certain parts of the river. The removal of several dams on the lower Snake River has been proposed, in order to restore some of the river's once-tremendous salmon runs.

Weather Forecast