Snowpack Is A Little Above Average

Montana's snowpack is about 111 percent of average, according to the April 1 report from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Water supply specialist Lucas Zukiewicz said in a news release, "This is as good as we get closer to runoff season this year." He said the streamflow forecasts are near to slightly above average for April 1-July 31 period. He said the May 1st snowpack report will "give a more accurate snapshot into our peak snowpack." The Bitterroot River drainage has 112 percent of normal of snow water equivalent, even though the March precipitation was only 60 percent of average. The Lower Clark Fork is 104 percent snow average and the Upper Clark Fork is 105 percent.

According to NRSC's Tasha Gibby, the statewide general snowpack totals were all slightly above average with the largest numbers from the St. Mary-Milk River drainages of the Musselshell at 139 percent of normal.