Flows down the Colorado River are projected to plunge toward record lows this spring and summer, a crucial April forecast has predicted.
A hot, dry winter topped off with a March heat wave across the West has federal forecasters anticipating just 22 percent of average flows into Lake Powell. And that’s only if the rest of the season matches historical averages.
If the hot, dry trend continues, this year could easily beat the record-low inflow of 2002, Colorado River Basin Forecast Center hydrologist Cody Moser said on a webinar Tuesday.
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“If we were to see 2002 [style] precipitation and temperature through the end of July, that would result in a new record low,” Moser said.
