National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Missouri Basin River Forecast Center
Water Supply Statement
Issued in cooperation with the Natural
Resources Conservation Service
Issued:  March 28, 2019

 

 

                   March 1, 2019 Spring and Summer Streamflow Forecasts

 

 Upper Missouri Basin


The high elevation snow pack in the Upper Missouri Basin as of March 1
was near to above ave
rage. The snow pack above Fort Peck, Montana was
113 percent. The snow pack in the St. Mary Basin was 91 percent, and the
Milk River Basin was 150 percent.

February precipitation across the Upper Missouri Basin was above average.
Basin precipitation summaries for the Missouri Basin include: Milk St. Mary,
104 percent; Milk Canada, 141 percent; Lower Milk, 406 percent; above Toston,
293 percent; Toston to Ft. Peck, 371 percent. 

 

February 2019 Upper Missouri Mean Precip            Oct-Feb WY2019 Upper Missouri Mean Precip


Stream flow in the Upper Missouri Basin is forecast to be
near to below average during the upcoming Spring and Summer.
The St. Mary River is forecast to have 85 percent of average
April-September flows. Runoff is expected to range around
104 percent of average for the Missouri Basin above Fort Peck,
Montana.


 


  Upper Missouri March 1, 2019 Spring and Summer Streamflow Forecasts

 

Of the four major irrigation reservoirs in Montana; Lima
Reservoir had 161 percent average storage, Clark Canyon was
holding 124 percent of average water, Gibson Reservoir had 38
percent of average stored water, and Fresno Reservoir had
91 percent of average stored water.

The major hydroelectric reservoirs in Montana (Canyon Ferry and
Fort Peck), had monthend storage in the average to above
average range; 98 and 117 percent of average water, respectively
.



Yellowstone Basin 

The high elevation snow pack in the Yellowstone Basin was near to above average
on March 1. The snow pack in the Upper Yellowstone Basin was 118 percent
of average. The snow packs in the Wind, Bighorn, and Shoshone Basins were 110,
101, and 115 percent of average, respectively. The snow packs in the Tongue
and Powder basins were 83 and 95 percent of average, respectively.

Precipitation during February was above average. The upper Yellowstone
River Basin received 286 percent of average precipitation while the
Lower Yellowstone River Basin reported 290 percent of average. The
Bighorn Basin received 137 percent of average precipitation while the
Wind River Basin received 109 percent of average. The Little Bighorn -
Upper Tongue Basin received 97 percent of average and the Powder River
had 129 percent of average precipitation.




 February 2019 Yellowstone Mean Precip                 Oct-Feb WY2019 Yellowstone Mean Precip
 

Forecast stream flow in the Yellowstone Basin is near average 
for the upcoming Spring and Summer.  Stream flow for the
Yellowstone River above Sidney, Montana is forecast to be about 
99 percent of average.  Flow in the Tongue Basin is expected to be
90 percent of average.  Flows in the Powder River are expected
to be about 96 percent of average.

Monthend storage at Boysen Reservoir was 108 percent of average. 
Stored water in Buffalo Bill Reservoir was 126 percent of average. 
Monthend storage was 99 percent of average at Bighorn Reservoir.

 


    Yellowstone March 1, 2019 Spring and Summer Streamflow Forecasts

 

Platte Basin 

The high elevation snow pack in the Upper North Platte Basin was
106 percent of average on March 1.  The snow pack in the North Platte
Basin below Seminoe Reservoir was 104 percent of average.  The snow
pack in the South Platte Basin was 108 percent of average.

Precipitation during February in the Upper North Platte Basin was 110
percent of average.  In the Lower North Platte Basin, precipitation
was 70 percent of average.  The North Platte Plains below Guernsey
Reservoir had 42 percent.  The South Platte Mountains had 117
percent whereas the Plains had 135 percent of average February
precipitation.





 

 February 2019 Platte Mean Precip                          Oct-Feb WY2019 Platte Mean Precip

 

Stream flow in the Platte Basin is forecast to be near 
average during the upcoming Spring and Summer. Runoff
for streams above Seminoe Reservoir are expected to be
about 94 percent of average. Streams in the South Platte
Basin above South Platte, Colorado can expect 96 percent
of average flow. For the remainder of the South Platte
basin, flows are expected near 88 percent.

Stored water in the South Platte Basin was 102 percent of average
on March 1.



   North Platte Streamflow Fcst          South Platte Streamflow Fcst


PRECIPITATION MAPS
February 2019  WY 2019
February 2019 Precipitation Percent of 1981-2010 Average WY2019 Precipitation as Percent of 1981-2010 Average
February 2019 Basin Mean Precipitation          WY2019 Basin Mean Precipitation
February 2019 MBRFC Basin Mean Precipitation      WY2019 MBRFC Basin Mean Precipitation

 

 

 WATER SUPPLY FORECAST
 NWS MISSOURI BASIN RIVER FORECAST CENTER
 PLEASANT HILL MISSOURI

 0845 CST MONDAY MARCH 04 2019

 DATA CURRENT AS OF: MARCH 01 2019

 MISSOURI/YELLOWSTONE/PLATTE RIVER BASIN FORECASTS


                                        50%   %   10%   90%   AVG
                                PERIOD (KAF) AVG (KAF) (KAF) (KAF)
------------------------------------------------------------------
BOYSEN RESERVOIR INFLOW         APR-SEP 766  73%  1289  485   1047
SBDW4N
BIGHORN R AT KANE               APR-SEP 1207 74%  1951  760   1633
LVEW4N
GREYBULL R NR MEETEETSE         APR-SEP 145  62%  253   83    235
MEEW4N
BUFFALO BILL RESERVOIR INFLOW   APR-SEP 604  89%  818   484   679
CDYW4N
ST MARY R NR BABB               APR-SEP 356  85%  421   296   418
SMYM8N
ST MARY R AT INT BOUNDARY       APR-SEP 428  88%  516   351   485
SMBM8N
MILK R NR CUTBANK               APR-SEP 26   68%  60    14    39
PDBM8N
MILK R AT EASTERN CROSSING      APR-SEP 51   73%  129   27    70
ERNM8N
NORTH PLATTE R NR NORTHGATE     APR-SEP 313  102% 514   201   308
NGTC2
ENCAMPMENT R NR ENCAMPMENT      APR-SEP 124  84%  177   86    147
ERCW4
ENCAMPMENT R NR ENCAMPMENT      APR-SEP 132  85%  186   94    156
ECRW4N
ROCK CK NR ARLINGTON            APR-SEP 50   101% 63    38    50
KCRW4
ROCK CK NR ARLINGTON            APR-SEP 51   101% 64    39    50
KCRW4N
SEMINOE RESERVOIR INFLOW WY     APR-SEP 725  88%  1158  476   826
SETW4
SEMINOE RESERVOIR INFLOW WY     APR-SEP 877  89%  1309  617   981
SETW4N
LARAMIE R NR WOODS              APR-SEP 50   69%  109   22    73
WODW4
LARAMIE R NR WOODS              APR-SEP 85   79%  145   55    108
WODW4N
LITTLE LARAMIE R NR FILMORE     APR-SEP 51   95%  78    38    54
SMTW4
LITTLE LARAMIE R NR FILMORE     APR-SEP 53   95%  80    40    56
SMTW4N
ANTERO RESERVOIR INFLOW         APR-SEP 15   92%  23    10    16
ANRC2N
SPINNEY MOUNTAIN RES INFLOW     APR-SEP 53   103% 90    33    51
SPYC2N
ELEVENMILE CANYON RES INFLOW    APR-SEP 59   104% 97    37    56
EVNC2N
CHEESMAN LAKE INFLOW            APR-SEP 96   91%  174   67    105
CHEC2N
SOUTH PLATTE R AT SOUTH PLATTE  APR-SEP 181  96%  305   129   188
SPTC2N
BEAR CK AT MORRISON             APR-SEP 14   78%  34    8     18
MRRC2N
CLEAR CK AT GOLDEN              APR-SEP 92   75%  142   70    124
GLDC2N
ST VRAIN CK AT LYONS            APR-SEP 81   89%  124   63    91
LNSC2N
BOULDER CK NR ORODELL           APR-SEP 51   103% 74    40    50
OROC2N
S BOULDER CK NR ELDORADO SPR    APR-SEP 26   70%  43    15    38
BELC2N
CACHE LA POUDRE AT CANYON MOUTH APR-SEP 186  93%  323   123   201
FTDC2N
LIMA RESERVOIR INFLOW           APR-SEP 65   109% 100   38    60
LRRM8N
CLARK CANYON RESERVOIR INFLOW   APR-SEP 143  105% 224   106   137
CLKM8N
BEAVERHEAD R AT BARRETTS        APR-SEP 167  98%  252   128   170
BARM8N
RUBY R RESERVOIR INFLOW         APR-SEP 86   100% 108   64    86
ALRM8N
BIG HOLE R NR MELROSE           APR-SEP 519  103% 779   384   504
MLRM8
BIG HOLE R NR MELROSE           APR-SEP 577  103% 836   440   561
MLRM8N
HEBGEN RESERVOIR INFLOW         APR-SEP 488  124% 561   418   393
HBDM8N
ENNIS RESERVOIR INFLOW          APR-SEP 856  122% 998   719   699
ELMM8N
GALLATIN R NR GATEWAY           APR-SEP 346  75%  439   277   460
GLGM8
GALLATIN R NR GATEWAY           APR-SEP 346  75%  439   277   460
GLGM8N
GALLATIN R AT LOGAN             APR-SEP 326  72%  483   236   454
LOGM8
GALLATIN R AT LOGAN             APR-SEP 466  81%  604   369   575
LOGM8N
MISSOURI R AT TOSTON            APR-SEP 2469 97%  3362  102   2556
TOSM8N
MISSOURI R AT FORT BENTON       APR-SEP 3857 100% 5427  161   3866
FBNM8N
MISSOURI R NR VIRGELLE          APR-SEP 4501 104% 6189  566   4348
VRGM8N
MISSOURI R NR LANDUSKY          APR-SEP 4912 108% 6659  810   4534
LDKM8N
MISSOURI R BLW FT PECK DAM      APR-SEP 5220 108% 6999  60    4817
FPKM8N
GIBSON RESERVOIR INFLOW         APR-SEP 287  82%  449   218   350
AGSM8N
MARIAS R NR SHELBY              APR-SEP 311  73%  512   236   428
SHLM8N
MUSSELSHELL R AT HARLOWTON      APR-SEP 81   74%  145   53    110
HLWM8N
YELLOWSTONE R AT YELLOWSTONE LK APR-SEP 746  114% 914   633   657
YLOW4APR
YELLOWSTONE R AT YELLOWSTONE LK APR-SEP 932  113% 1119  800   824
YLOW4N
YELLOWSTONE R AT CORWIN SPRINGS APR-SEP 1730 103% 2089  475   1673
CORM8
YELLOWSTONE R AT CORWIN SPRINGS APR-SEP 2037 107% 2394  729   1912
CORM8N
YELLOWSTONE R AT LIVINGSTON     APR-SEP 2038 106% 2453  730   1913
LIVM8
YELLOWSTONE R AT LIVINGSTON     APR-SEP 2403 109% 2828  32    2208
LIVM8N
YELLOWSTONE R AT BILLINGS       APR-SEP 3459 105% 4244  808   3303
BILM8
YELLOWSTONE R AT BILLINGS       APR-SEP 4485 104% 5202  766   4314
BILM8N
YELLOWSTONE R AT MILES CITY     APR-SEP 6825 96%  8736  610   7110
MILM8N
YELLOWSTONE R AT SIDNEY         APR-SEP 7189 98%  9123  889   7332
SIDM8N
BOULDER R AT BIG TIMBER         APR-SEP 257  94%  306   198   273
BTMM8
BOULDER R AT BIG TIMBER         APR-SEP 299  95%  347   238   314
BTMM8N
STILLWATER R NR ABSAROKEE       APR-SEP 459  93%  548   388   495
SRAM8
STILLWATER R NR ABSAROKEE       APR-SEP 518  94%  606   447   552
SRAM8N
CLARKS FK YELWSTONE R NR BELFRY APR-SEP 477  97%  600   387   490
BFYM4
CLARKS FK YELWSTONE R NR BELFRY APR-SEP 548  97%  669   461   563
BFYM4N
BIGHORN R NR ST XAVIER          APR-SEP 1947 82%  2872  400   2383
STXM8N
LITTLE BIGHORN R NR HARDIN      APR-SEP 116  112% 166   72    104
HRDM8N
TONGUE R NR DAYTON              APR-SEP 81   99%  109   55    82
DAYW4N
TONGUE R NR DECKER              APR-SEP 184  84%  278   123   220
DSLM8N
TONGUE R RESERVOIR INFLOW       APR-SEP 186  84%  288   124   222
DKRM8N
POWDER R NR LOCATE              APR-SEP 188  95%  349   112   198
MHDM8
POWDER R NR LOCATE              APR-SEP 212  97%  424   122   219
LOCM8N

LOCATIONS WITH AN "N" SUFFIX INDICATE NATURAL FLOWS EXCLUDING
STREAM AUGMENTATIONS

KAF: THOUSANDS OF ACRE-FEET

%AVG: CURRENT 50%/AVG

AVG: AVERAGE (50%) SEASONAL RUNOFF VOLUME AS SIMULATED BY THE
RIVER FORECAST MODEL CONSIDERING A CONTINUOUS SIMULATION OF THE
BASIN RESPONSE TO HISTORIC CLIMATE DATA (OBSERVED PRECIPITATION
AND TEMPERATURES) OVER THE PERIOD OF 1981-2010

THE 50%, 10% AND 90% COLUMNS INDICATE THE PROBABILITY THAT THE
ACTUAL VOLUME WILL EXCEED THE FORECAST FOR THE VALID TIME PERIOD

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: WWW.WEATHER.GOV/MBRFC/WATER