Snowpack looking good for Montana

Compared the rest of the Western United States right now the snowpack in Montana is looking very, very good. Snowpack totals for Jan. 1, 2018 from snow courses and SNOTEL sites in Montana and the rivers that feed Wyoming are near to well above normal in all basins of the state. Late December snowfall raised basin percentages west of the Divide from below normal to well above from Dec. 15 - Jan. 1. While this a great start to winter for the water users in the state, it is important to remember that only 30-50 percent of our seasonal snowfall has occurred by Jan. 1. There is still a lot of winter left for conditions to change, but for now we’re off to a great start. (Graph by Natural Resources Conservation Service)