Spokane River Snowpack Melting Because of Warm Nights

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — About 14 percent of the Spokane River basin's mountain snowpack has melted away in recent weeks because of unseasonably warm nighttime temperatures.

The Spokesman-Review reports that temperatures in the mountains have been 10 to 15 degrees warmer than usual at night.

Researchers say warmer nights are consistent with climate change, and could have long-term ramifications for Northwest snowpack and summer water supplies.

On Friday, the low temperature at Mullan Pass was 46 degrees, a full 20 degrees warmer than normal for the 6,000-foot-elevation mountain pass near the Idaho-Montana border.

Mountain snowpack is an important source of water in the summer as it slowly melts. But a fast melt can lead to drought conditions.

On Monday, snowpack for the Spokane River basin was about 81 percent of normal for this time.