Montana Snowpack is Near to Below Normal as the Season Shifts to Spring

April ushered in the transition from winter to spring in the Montana snowpack accumulation season. "Most SNOTEL sites have passed peak Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) accumulation for the season," said Florence Miller, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Hydrologist. Overall, SNOTEL sites reached near to below normal peak SWE. The timing of peak snowpack accumulation ranged from near normal to 10-20 days early. This is reflected in the May 1 snowpack percentages, with southwest and central Montana snowpacks at 95 to 110% of median, and snowpacks across the western portion of the sta...