Snowpack lagging in area basins

The Daily Inter Lake

The Flathead and Kootenai basins are lagging behind last year's snowpack at the end of February, as well as historic averages.

Snowpack above the Flathead Basin, measured by automated Snotel sites in the backcountry, is at 84 percent of last year's February measurements and 89 percent of the historic average. The Kootenai is at 93 percent of last year and 99 percent of the historic average.

The two basins have lower numbers despite substantial statewide gains in snowpack during the past month.

"February has been the best snowfall month so far this winter," said Roy Kaiser, a water supply specialist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Bozeman "Mountain snowpack statewide has increased 7 percent over the course of the month."

Based on historic patterns, March 1 is considered to be more than three quarters through the winter snowfall period.