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Snowpack, Precipitation Below Average in January Across Much of Montana

February 6, 2007

For More Information:
Roy Kaiser, 406-587-6991

Bozeman--“Once again, most mountain storm activity remained west of the Continental Divide and along the southern mountains east of the Divide during Jan.,” according to Roy Kaiser, water supply specialist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Jan. mountain precipitation was generally below average. Mountain precipitation was 74 percent of average west of the Continental Divide and 68 percent of average east of the Divide. Jan. mountain precipitation was especially poor in areas of central, south west, and south central regions of the state, ranging from 44 to 65 percent of average.

“The first of Feb. is when we should have about 60 percent of our seasonal snowpack accumulation in place with 40 percent of the season remaining,” said Kaiser. “Right now, mountain snowpack is below average and below last year at this time.”

Statewide, mountain snowpack was 80 percent of average and 74 percent of last year. West of the Continental Divide, snowpack was 85 percent of average and 82 percent of last year. East of the Divide, snowpack was 74 percent of average and 73 percent of last year.

River basins reporting snowpack levels near record lows on Feb. 1 were the Ruby, Madison, Gallatin, and Lower Yellowstone. However, on that date, the Shields basin set a new record low and the Musselshell was at the record low snowpack level.

Snow Water Content
River Basin Percent of Average Percent of Last Year January Percent Change
Columbia 85 82 0
--Kootenai, Montana 99 93 +1
--Flathead, Montana 84 80 +5
--Upper Clark Fork 77 78 -7
--Bitterroot 80 71 -4
--Lower Clark Fork 88 81 -7
Missouri 75 69 -6
--Missouri Headwaters 71 60 -9
----Jefferson 74 66 -7
----Madison 68 57 -10
----Gallatin 64 53 -9
--Missouri Mainstem 83 86 -1
----Headwaters Mainstem 82 78 -7
----Smith-Judith-Musselshell 79 63 -1
----Sun-Teton-Marias 90 107 +1
----Milk 89 126 --
------Bearpaw Mountains 73 67 -18
------Cypress Hills, Canada 104 372 --
St. Mary 86 102 +3
St. Mary & Milk 82 175 +4
Yellowstone 70 74 -6
--Upper Yellowstone 70 64 -7
--Lower Yellowstone 70 86 -4
Statewide 80 74 -2

Assuming normal precipitation across Montana, streamflows are forecast to average 68 to 83 percent. West of the Continental Divide, streamflows are forecast to average between 80 and 91 percent. East of the Continental Divide, streamflows are forecast to average between 59 and 77 percent.

Below are averaged river basin streamflow forecast summaries for the period April 1 through July 31. These forecasts assume near normal spring conditions and do not account for well below average (70 percent of less) or well above average (130 percent or more) snowmelt or spring rain.

Streamflow Forecasts
River Basin April-July This Year Percent of Average April-July Last Year Percent of Average
Columbia 80 to 91 94 to 106
--Kootenai 92 to 102 93 to 104
--Flathead 85 to 94 97 to 107
--Upper Clark Fork 72 to 86 89 to 106
--Bitterroot 77 to 86 104 to 115
--Lower Clark Fork 80 to 90 92 to 103
Missouri 56 to 77 79 to 99
--Jefferson 49 to 69 76 to 95
--Madison 73 to 80 108 to 116
--Gallatin 66 to 78 106 to 117
--Missouri Mainstem 63 to 76 92 to 106
--Smith-Judith-Musselshell 38 to 62 97 to 117
--Sun-Teton-Marias 73 to 93 60 to 79
--Milk 46 to 88 41 to 84
St. Mary 89 to 96 80 to 87
Yellowstone 64 to 76 87 to 99
--Upper Yellowstone 72 to 83 99 to 110
--Lower Yellowstone 54 to 67 70 to 84
Statewide 68 to 83 86 to 101

NOTE: The April-July Last Year Percent of Average column above is what was forecast last year, not what actually occurred.

For more detailed snow water content, streamflow forecast, and climate data for Montana, visit the NRCS snow survey program website.

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