Snow levels inconsistent

Northwest Montana’s mountain snowpack remained well above average going into March.

At lower elevations, however, snowfall has been below normal this winter.

Snowpack in the mountains above the Flathead River Basin was measured at 123 percent of average, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Snowpack above the Kootenai River Basin is at 117 percent of average while overall mountain snowpack west of the Continental Divide is at 114 percent of average.

Statewide snowpack has been above average for the last four months. As of March 1, the state’s average seasonal snow accumulations are about 80 percent complete.

For some drainages east of the Continental Divide, snow levels are even deeper. The St. Mary/Milk River drainage on the east side of Glacier Park has snow levels at 144 percent of average.

Down in the Flathead Valley, however, snow has fallen short of the 30-year average.

According to the National Weather Service in Missoula, 46.8 inches of snow has been measured this winter at Glacier Park International Airport.

That’s just over 5 inches below the 52.2-inch average snowfall through the end of February.

The substantial mountain snowpack could herald strong streamflows this spring and summer.

The conservation service predicts that streamflows from April through July should be 24 percent above average in the Flathead River drainage and 6 percent above average in the Kootenai River drainage.

River flows in the Milk River drainage are forecast to be 64 percent above normal.