March 1, 2024 Spring and Summer Streamflow Forecasts
Upper Missouri Basin
The high elevation snow pack in the Upper Missouri Basin as of March 1
was below average. The snow pack in the St. Mary Basin was 72 percent,
and the Milk River Basin was 62 percent.
February precipitation across the Upper Missouri Basin was above average.
Basin precipitation summaries for the Missouri Basin include: Milk St. Mary,
134 percent; Milk Canada, 124 percent; Lower Milk, 173 percent; above Toston,
202 percent; Toston to Ft. Peck, 196 percent.
February 2024 Upper Missouri Mean Precip Oct-Feb WY2024 Upper Missouri Mean Precip
Stream flow in the Upper Missouri Basin is forecast to be
below average during the upcoming Spring and Summer.
The St. Mary River is forecast to have 57 percent of average
April-September flows. Runoff is expected to range around
74 percent of average for the Missouri Basin above Fort Peck,
Montana.
Upper Missouri March 1, 2024 Spring and Summer Streamflow Forecasts
Of the four major irrigation reservoirs in Montana; Lima
Reservoir had 146 percent average storage, Clark Canyon was
holding 137 percent of average water, Gibson Reservoir had 34
percent of average stored water, and Fresno Reservoir had
44 percent of average stored water.
Yellowstone Basin
The high elevation snow pack in the Yellowstone Basin was below average
on March 1. The snow pack in the Upper Yellowstone Basin was 66 percent
of average. The snow packs in the Wind, Bighorn, and Shoshone Basins were 101,
85, and 86 percent of average, respectively. The snow packs in the Tongue
and Powder basins were 65 and 63 percent of average, respectively.
Precipitation during February was above average. The upper Yellowstone
River Basin received 147 percent of average precipitation while the
Lower Yellowstone River Basin reported 128 percent of average. The
Bighorn Basin received 142 percent of average precipitation while the
Wind River Basin received 172 percent of average. The Little Bighorn -
Upper Tongue Basin received 90 percent of average and the Powder River
had 79 percent of average precipitation.
February 2024 Yellowstone Mean Precip Oct-Feb WY2024 Yellowstone Mean Precip
Forecast stream flow in the Yellowstone Basin is below average
for the upcoming Spring and Summer. Stream flow for the
Yellowstone River above Sidney, Montana is forecast to be about
85 percent of average. Flow in the Tongue Basin is expected to be
82 percent of average. Flows in the Powder River are expected
to be about 59 percent of average.
Monthend storage at Boysen Reservoir was 106 percent of average.
Stored water in Buffalo Bill Reservoir was 108 percent of average.
Monthend storage was 102 percent of average at Bighorn Reservoir.
Yellowstone March 1, 2024 Spring and Summer Streamflow Forecasts
Platte Basin
The high elevation snow pack in the Upper North Platte Basin was
95 percent of average on March 1. The snow pack in the North Platte
Basin below Seminoe Reservoir was 94 percent of average. The snow
pack in the South Platte Basin was 93 percent of average.
Precipitation during February in the Upper North Platte Basin was 143
percent of average. In the Lower North Platte Basin, precipitation
was 133 percent of average. The North Platte Plains below Guernsy
Reservoir had 149 percent. The South Platte Mountains had 198
percent whereas the Plains had 304 percent of average February
precipitation.
February 2024 Platte Mean Precip Oct-Feb WY2024 Platte Mean Precip
Stream flow in the Platte Basin is forecast to be below
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 85 percent
of average flow. For the remainder of the South Platte
basin, flows are expected near 80 percent.
Stored water in the South Platte Basin was 101 percent of average
on March 1.
North Platte Streamflow Fcst South Platte Streamflow Fcst
