Snowpack Percentages Decrease After One Month of Below Normal Precipitation

Following nearly three months of abundant precipitation across much of Montana, weather patterns changed in early January, producing relatively dry conditions for the month. January precipitation totals were lowest along the Rocky Mountain Front, northeastern Montana, and western Montana. Most of southwest Montana received slightly less than normal January precipitation. "The storm which brought two to three feet of mountain snow in many locations during the last week of January really saved us. Without that storm, basin-wide snowpack percentages across much of Montana might have looked similar to last year at this time," said Eric Larson, USDA Nat...