Recent storms have created an unbelievable sight at Lake Powell's Iceberg Canyon in Utah, as waterfalls formed over the cliffs on Wednesday, August 2.
The natural phenomenon comes as the reservoir levels continue to rise to record levels, reversing a devastating drought.
Authorities issued a warning for severe storms on Wednesday. The storms brought thunder, lightning, hail, and winds up to 70mph.
Following the storm, massive amounts of water crashed down the rocks, as seen in videos captured by Adrianne Cooper and Eric Wells, ABC4 reported.
Waterfalls formed following severe storms on August 2 at Lake Powell, creating a spectacle for onlookers
Water crashed down the rocks and into the reservoir, which had been experiencing drought conditions up until months ago
Winter storms combined with summer rains have contributed to the rise in water levels
Over the past few months, Lake Powell's water levels have risen by 44 feet as a result of repeated winter storms.
During the winter, snow levels reached 160 percent of what is considered normal in Utah.
The stark contrast was so notable that it could be seen in satellite images, captured by The European Space Agency's Copernicus SENTINEL-2.
Snow levels shattered 40-year-old records in the state, with a snow water equivalent of 30 inches, which began just before the satellite began recording the time lapse images.
The rise in the water levels at Lake Powell can be attributed to the historic 2022/23 winter season
Earlier this year, experts said it was unlikely to refill for another 50 years after hitting its lowest level in decades due to droughts
A bathtub ring seen above the waterline around Lake Powell was created during drought that reduced the flow of the Colorado River on April 15, 2023 in Lake Powell
The amount of snow allowed the United States Bureau of Reclamation to release water through the Glen Canyon Dam at Lake Powell, which aided the downriver Lake Mead.
The stunning surge in the reservoir's elevation is an encouraging development for this critical water supply. It comes just months after experts said it was unlikely to refill for another 50 years amid severe drought conditions.
Based on the depleted levels of Lake Mead and Lake Powell, Brad Udall, a water and climate scientist at Colorado State University told The Los Angeles Times he would estimate that replenishing the reservoirs would take roughly six consecutive extremely wet years, with water flows similar to those in 2011.
'We'd need six years like that to refill this system, in a row, based on current operating rules,' Udall said. 'And I just don't see that even being remotely possible.'
Udall has co-authored research demonstrating how warming is depleting the river's flows, telling The Los Angeles Times 'to think that these things would ever refill requires some kind of leap of faith that I, for one, don't have.'
'The last 23 years are the best lessons we have right now, and they should scare the pants off of people,' he shared.
Lake Powell, located in northern Arizona and stretching up into Southern Utah, has depleted to just 23 percent of full capacity and is approaching a point where Glen Canyon Dam would no longer be able to generate power, the news outlet reported.
This satellite image from May 17 shows the impact of winter storms on Lake Powell
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Incredible satellite images show how Lake Mead, which was considered headed for disastrously low levels of water, has risen by 44 feet in recent months due to historic winter storms. Here, the difference is shown between imaging taken on March 18 (pictured left) and July 16 (pictured right)
Despite the recent surge in water levels, experts say that the basin may still experience drought conditions going forward.
Although this winter has already seen the Rocky Mountains hit with an above-average snowpack, scientists and water officials believe that those in the Colorado River Basin need to prepare for low reservoir levels for years to come.
Others believe that the river's major reservoirs will not refill in 'our lifetimes,' the news outlet reported.
Scientists therefore urge residents to curtail their water usage.
According to experts, California uses the largest portion of the river. Arizona started in the late 1990s, and Nevada in the early 2000s - and now experts say 'the water use is maxed out,' the SFGate reported.
'Every state is taking too much, and we have to cut back. And so there's just not enough,' said Bill Hasencamp, manager of Colorado River resources for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
He predicted that even if you get 'wet year' after 'wet year' the demand is so high, it still wouldn't fill.'
The river's flow has declined about 20 percent in the last 23 years, due in part, scientists say to rising temperatures and climate change.
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