Storms improve outlook

The Daily Inter Lake

Montana's statewide snowfall is near average and ahead of last January's numbers, particularly in the northwestern part of the state.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service in Bozeman this week released the first snowpack statistics for 2008.

"The snow water content recorded on Jan. 1, 2008, represents about 40 to 45 percent of the seasonal snowfall," said Roy Kaiser, water supply specialist. "With more than half of the snowfall season remaining and slightly above average precipitation, Montana could see a positive snowpack for the season."

Mountain precipitation for December west of the Continental Divide was 123 percent of average and east of the divide it was 109 percent of average.

According to Kaiser, erratic storms have been moving mostly through the western part of the state.

In the Flathead Basin, the service said, mountain snowpack that is at 83 percent of the historic average and at 104 percent of last January's snowpack.

The Kootenai Basin is at 94 percent of average and 101 percent of the snowpack a year ago.

Snowpack is measured at a series of automated sites and along survey courses where snow depths are manually monitored.

The snowy winter is reflected in snow depths at Flathead Valley ski areas.

Whitefish Mountain Resort has received 176 inches of snow this season (including 36 inches in the past week) and currently has a base of 86 inches of snow at the summit and 41 inches in the village area.

Blacktail Mountain Ski Area near Lakeside has a 61-inch snow base at midmountain.

Skiers have enjoyed the snowfall. On Dec. 29, Whitefish Mountain Resort counted more than 7,000 skiers - just 23 skiers short of the all-time record for Big Mountain set in 1994.