MAY MOUNTAIN SNOWPACK NEAR TO ABOVE AVERAGE AND WELL ABOVE LAST YEAR

May 6, 2008

For More Information:
Roy Kaiser, 406-587-6991
Ivy Allen, 406-587-6971

Bozeman -- “Cool temperatures during April have delayed mountain snowmelt,” said Roy Kaiser, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) water supply specialist. “Mountain snowpack statewide was generally near to above average and well above last year.” April mountain precipitation was 79 percent of average and water year mountain precipitation was 103 percent of average. April mountain precipitation for the Columbia River Basin was 84 percent of average; Missouri River Basin was 80 percent of average; and Yellowstone River Basin was 64 percent of average.

Snowpack

As of May 1, mountain snow water contents values statewide were 123 percent of average and 179 percent of those recorded on May 1 of last year. Snowpack in the Columbia River Basin was 132 percent of average and 177 percent of last year, the Missouri River Basin was 116 percent of average and 180 percent of last year and the Yellowstone River Basin was 107 percent of average and 169 percent of last year.

Streamflow

Roy stated that “Water users and water managers need to pay particular attention to local basins affecting their water supplies, as there are several localized areas where snowpack and streamflow forecasts are below average.” See forecast probabilities on the Montana NRCS website at ftp://ftp.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/support/water/provisional_forecasts/montana/mt.txt.

Statewide, streamflows forecast averages are 93 and 106 percent. West of the Divide, streamflows are forecast to average 107 and 115 percent and, east of the Divide, streamflows are forecast to average 84 and 101 percent of average.

Below are averaged River Basin streamflow forecast summaries for the period May 1 through July 31. THESE FORECASTS ASSUME NEAR NORMAL SPRING CONDITIONS AND DO NOT ACCOUNT FOR WELL BELOW AVERAGE (70% or less) OR WELL ABOVE AVERAGE (130% or more) SNOWMELT OR SPRING RAIN. Specific forecast probabilities are available in each individual River Basin Report.

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