A reprieve from the steady annual decline occurred in 2017 when lake levels rose throughout the year due to heavier than normal snowfall in the Rocky Mountains. As a result of the large snowmelt, the lake regained the water levels it had in 2015 with a seasonal high of . The seasonal low of in 2017 was close to that experienced in 2014, safely above the drought trigger. However, that level was still below the seasonal low experienced in 2012, and the lake was projected to begin falling again in 2018. Despite these and other predictions of an impending shortage determination by 2020, snowpack of 140% of average in the Upper Colorado River basin as of April 2019 resulted in 128% above average inflow into Lake Powell, resulting in water level on Lake Mead. In December 2019, Lake Mead water level reached , about above projections. As of April, 2020, the water level stood at , again benefiting from above average mountain snowpack (107% of average). Since 2018, Lake Mead water levels have remained well above the level that would trigger a shortage determination. The Bureau of Reclamation expects that the continued Colorado River basin drought will yield a Lake Mead level of by 2022.