Despite warm start to December, Flathead snowpack is just about average
Clouds shroud Mount Brown over the weekend in Glacier National Park.
Hungry Horse News
After a very warm start to December, the region’s snowpack has bounced back a bit and now stands at 100% of average for the Flathead River Basin as of last week.
Snow depths vary widely, however.
The upper elevations in the Swan Range, such as Noisy Basin, which is just above the Jewel Basin trailhead, is at 113% of average, while Badger Pass, which is near Marias Pass, is well below average at 67% of average.
Lower elevation areas, which saw the most snowmelt when it warmed up, are off as well.
Grave Creek, at 4,300 feet is 78% of average and Emery Creek is 86% of average.
Other river basins in the state are below normal. The Upper clark Fork is 74% of average; the Bitterroot is 76% of average and the Smith, Judith and Mussellshell Rivers in the middle of the state are well off at just 58% of average.