Montana snowpack remains near average...

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 Montana snowpack remains near average, well above last year

Montana's mountain precipitation was near average in January, but well above last year's snowpack, a federal water-supply specialist said Thursday.

"The first of February is when we should have about 60 to 65 percent of our seasonal snowpack in place"

Statewide, mountain precipitation was 103 percent of average in January, but 130 percent of last year's figures. The Missouri River Basin was 114 percent of average; and the Yellowstone River Basin 103 percent of average.

In southwest Montana, the snowpack was near average over time, but significantly higher than it was last year at this time:

- The Madison River was at 113 percent of average, 166 percent of last year;

- The Gallatin River was 107 percent of average, 169 percent of last year;

- The Upper Yellowstone was 102 percent of average, 144 percent of last year.

Asssuming normal precipitation across Montana, steramflows are forecast to be near average at 92 percent.

Forecasted that streamflows west of the Continental Divide would be about 89 percent of average, while those east of the divide would be about 93 percent.