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:  November 26, 2024

 

 Upper Missouri Basin


October precipitation across the Upper Missouri Basin was below average. Basin precipitation summaries for the Missouri Basin include: Milk St. Mary, 49 percent; Milk Canada, 10 percent; Lower Milk, 21 percent; above Toston, 47 percent; Toston to Ft. Peck, 13 percent. 

Of the four major irrigation reservoirs in Montana; Lima Reservoir had 119 percent average storage, Clark Canyon was holding 133 percent of average water, Gibson Reservoir had 37 percent of average stored water, and Fresno Reservoir had 36 percent of average stored water.
 

Yellowstone Basin 

Precipitation during October was below average. The upper Yellowstone River Basin received 153 percent of average precipitation while the Lower Yellowstone River Basin reported 47 percent of average. The Bighorn Basin received 65 percent of average precipitation while the Wind River Basin received 74 percent of average. The Little Bighorn - Upper Tongue Basin received 65 percent of average and the Powder River had 78 percent of average precipitation.

Monthend storage at Boysen Reservoir was 86 percent of average. Stored water in Buffalo Bill Reservoir was 82 percent of average. Monthend storage was 93 percent of average at Bighorn Reservoir.

 

Platte Basin 

Precipitation during October in the Upper North Platte Basin was 76 percent of average.  In the Lower North Platte Basin, precipitation was 72 percent of average.  The North Platte Plains below Guernsy Reservoir had 14 percent.  The South Platte Mountains had 36 percent whereas the Plains had 21 percent of average October precipitation.

Stored water in the South Platte Basin was 119 percent of average on November 1.

 

PRECIPITATION MAPS
October 2024  WY 2025
October 2024 Precipitation Percent of 1991-2010 Average WY2025 Precipitation as Percent of 1991-2010 Average
October 2024 Basin Mean Precipitation          WY2025 Basin Mean Precipitation
October 2024 MBRFC Basin Mean Precipitation      WY2025 MBRFC Basin Mean Precipitation