Snowpack is close to average

Snowpack readings at the end of February slightly declined for the second straight month across Montana, bringing the statewide average to 93 percent of normal.

Snowpack above the Flathead River Basin is 94 percent of normal. In the Kootenai River Basin, it is 93 percent of average.

Statewide, the snowpack average dropped three percentage points in February, while the decline was seven percent in January, according to the Bozeman-based Natural Resources Conservation Service.

“Near-normal snowpack is a good sign this time of year because at this point we are typically 80 percent complete with the normal snow accumulation season,” water supply specialist Brian Domonkos said in a news release.

At Whitefish Mountain Resort, there has been plentiful snowfall but most of it has fallen at the top of  Big Mountain.

“There’s a wider margin between the summit and the village than there usually is,” said Riley Polumbus, resort spokeswoman.

The summit has received 231 inches so far this winter and there is currently a settled base of 108 inches, while the village area has received 118 inches and currently has a settled base of 43 inches.

Last year, as of March 7, the resort had a settled base of 110 inches at the summit and had received 244 inches of cumulative snowfall.

“So we are tracking behind last year,” Polumbus said.

At Blacktail Mountain Ski Area west of Lakeside, snow accumulations have fallen short of previous years, said Steve Spencer, ski area manager.

“It’s less than we had the last two winters, which were super good winters. But it’s been enough all winter long,” Spencer said. “The snow has held up really well because we are north-facing. We haven’t had a lot of powder days but we’ve had plenty of snow.”

Blacktail Mountain currently has 77 inches of snow at the top with less at lower elevations.

Spencer said he anticipates ski conditions will be adequate for Blacktail to stay open into April. The ski area typically keeps its full five-day-a-week schedule into the first week of April, then is open only on weekends until it closes in mid-April, Spencer said.

“It gets hard to compete with the golf courses around that time,” he said.