Scant snow may mean low water

Montana’s mountain snowpack is below average for a third straight month, setting the stage for considerably lower-than-average spring stream flows.

At the end of January, mountain precipitation west of the Continental Divide was 57 percent of average, according to the Bozeman-based Natural Resources and Conservation Service.

Mountain snowpack in the Flathead Basin is 76 percent of average.

Snow levels in the Kootenai Basin are 75 percent of average. Montana basins feeding the Columbia River system combined are at 72 percent of average.

The first of February is when the state historically has received 65 percent of the seasonal snowfall.

Assuming there will be near-average precipitation for the rest of season, Montana stream flows are forecast to be 69 percent of average west of the Divide.

The Kootenai Basin is expected to have stream flows at 66 percent of average and stream flows in the Flathead Basin are expected to be 75 percent of average.