Unseasonably warm April ushers in early spring-like weather

Unseasonably warm temperatures marked much of the month of April in San Juan County, with an early arrive of spring-like weather.  The month closed with near-record high temperatures.

While the warm weather melted much of the snow pack in area mountains, area reservoirs are filling but at a much slower rate than last year.  

Dry weather in the fall left low water content in area soils and much of the runoff is soaking into the ground rather than running into reservoirs.

Despite the slow filling, local reservoirs are in good shape as they entered the winter much higher than during previous years. 

Loyds Lake is currently at 87 percent capacity, while Recapture Reservoir is at 82 percent capacity.

Last year, water breached the spillway for two full months at Recapture and one full month at Loyds.

Lake Powell is less than half full, but the water level is 26 feet higher than it was last year at this time.