Overall snowpack now 135 percent of average, more rain on the way
Beard blowing in the wind, a cyclist heads down the Sun Road earlier this spring. (Chris Peterson photo)
Rain and snow every day last week has boosted the snowpack to 135 percent of average in a time when the snowpack should be eroding.
Last week West Glacier saw about two inches of rain and the mountainous terrain saw snow.
The Emery Creek SNOTEL site, at just 4,350 feet, still has nearly nine inches of snow water equivalent and is at 171 percent of average. Emery Creek is up the Hungry Horse Reservoir a few miles on the east side.
In Glacier Park, the West Flattop SNOTEL is at 136 percent of average and Grave Creek, up the Whitefish Range, is 196 percent of average. West Flattop still has 133 inches of snow, adding eight more inches in April.
Since Oct. 1, the Glacier Park International Airport has seen 16.15 inches of precipitation, which is 7.47 inches above normal — nearly double a normal year.
Last fall, the Hungry Horse Dam saw a foot of rain in October alone, so the ground is already saturated.
More rain is expected this weekend, the National Weather Service is predicting.