Quartz Mountain news: Low levels will be harmful in the future

What a difference one week makes.

On Saturday Feb. 7, folks were complaining that the morning low of 26 was “cold”. On this past Saturday 18 degrees was the forecasted high and people would have been very glad if it had warmed up to 26!

Extended cold snaps are hard on animals, both domestic and wildlife. Water sources freeze over.

Lake Altus-Lugert had significant amounts of ice rimming the shoreline and extending far across the lake.

Many pelicans and herons were spotted standing grumpily on top of the ice.

Lake Altus-Lugert is on the rise. Of course, with more than a 25 foot deficit (the lake is barely 19.6% full) it is going to take some time to fill.

For comparison, this week in 2020 the lake lacked only 10.52 feet from being full.

In 2019 it was nearly full lacking just 7.45 feet.

Of course, all it takes is a good 6 inch rain near Sayre and Lake Altus-Lugert can fill in 2 to 3 days.

WWW.Almanac.com has the entire winter warmer than average and precipitation less than average. Their spring forecast is for less than normal rainfall and warmer than normal temperatures.

They forecast that heat to continue through the summer with drier than normal conditions.

None of these predictions are encouraging for a lake to rebound to nearly full before irrigation season.