2018 Snow Season

Every year at the beginning of the snow year USDA water officials head out to take a look at the snowpack at Moore's Creek Summit in Boise County. This year was no different. USDA water specialist Ron Abramovich was present as usual. "Right now the whole Boise basin is 68% of average." So that measurement has great merit given that they have been taking snow level measurements since 1932. As this winter's snow pack gets off to a slow start compared to last year, Abramovich says don't worry, be patient. "Last year, if you remember, all the storms started coming into the state around February. Our precipitation in February last year was 2 to 3 times normal and 4 to 5 times normal in the Big Wood basin." Who can forget. You may recall that in January 2017, Four Rivers Onion Packing Plant in Weiser, Idaho, was one of many facilities to experience serious roof damage. They lost about 25 percent of one of their packing line facilities' roof. Between the packing line buildings and storage facilities roof damages across the region, there was a huge negative effect on onion availability. Hopefully that won't happen again this year.