Montana
Dry January Sinks Northwest Montana’s Snowpack Below Normal – Flathead Beacon
Following a snowy December that boosted northwest Montana’s snowpack to above-average, last month’s dry weather dropped the region’s river basins to low levels as winter continues.
Northwest Montana’s snow water equivalent levels (SWE) dipped to about 85% in the Flathead, Kootenai, and the Lower Clark Fork river basins as of Feb. 13 while the St. Mary and Sun-Teton-Marias basins on the east side of the Continental Divide hovered around 70%. The Noisy Basin SNOTEL site in the Swan Mountains, however, is above average at 110% of normal.
“Fortunately, it was a good start to the season, so northwest Montana was doing pretty good at first with 90 to 110% of normal,” said Eric Larson, a hydrologist with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
Last month, winter storms continued to favor central Montana, resulting in the Smith-Judith-Musselshell reporting 130% of normal snowpack, while Bear Paw reported more than 200% of normal, according to the Feb. 1 Water Supply Outlook Report.
But Larson says that while the Bear Paw River Basin is currently twice the average snowpack, the area on the Hi-Line is unique because the region is typically dry and there is only one weather station, unlike other basins that have multiple data collecting sites at various elevations.
“One big month can double the snowpack and percentages can fluctuate,” Larson said.
On the Rocky Mountain Front, SWE levels were well below normal by February, with only 56% at the Sun-Teton-Marias basin and 3 to 7 inches below the average SWE levels. Hydrologists say that significant accumulation is needed in this region over the next few months for the snowpack to recover.
But Larson says there is still time for recovery since the snowpack usually doesn’t peak until late April or early May ahead of spring runoff.
While SWE levels in northwest Montana remain below-average, Larson says the snowpack is still doing better than last winter when areas like Many Glacier saw the lowest level in the last 49 years by February of 2024.
“Last year was such a low year across most of Montana,” Larson said. “Last year at this time, lots of stations had some of their lowest snowpack in [decades].”
In mid-February of 2024, SWE levels in the Flathead River Basin hovered around 70% while the southern Mission Mountains were at about 60%.
If dry conditions persist following last winter’s dismal precipitation, Larson says the soil will suck up more moisture than it normally would, leaving less water for runoff during the spring.
“When you have a really low snow year, there could be implications for the next year,” Larson said. “The soil could be stealing that water. Just given the low snow year that we had last year, we’d want to have a slightly above snow year,”
At the end of last year, northwest Montana moved from a “no drought” phase to “abnormally dry” while the central part of the state changed from abnormally dry to no drought conditions, although drought conditions continue to persist from last year.
According to the National Weather Service, a surge of moisture is predicted beginning Friday afternoon, with widespread snow expected to fall through Sunday in northwest Montana. The long range forecast predicts that the Flathead Valley will see below-average temperatures with normal precipitation.
[email protected]
GREAT FALLS — Blowing dust is becoming a major issue again on the Hi-Line as winds gust to 60–70+ mph, especially from Phillips County eastward.
Visibility has dropped to very low to near zero at times, and there have already been several crashes east of Glasgow near Nashua and Frazer. People are urged to avoid unnecessary travel in these areas if possible.
This is a very dangerous situation for travelers across northeast Montana. Blowing dust is causing near-zero visibility in many locations.
WATCH:
Hazardous driving along the Hi-Line
Highway 2 from Dodson to Wolf Point is closed until further notice, with only emergency travel allowed in these areas.
All red- and black-shaded roads and highways are experiencing severe driving conditions because of the low visibility.
MDT
Click here to visit the MDT 511 site.
(WEDNESDAY, MAY 13) A fast-moving front rolled through north-central Montana on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. The powerful winds gusted to more than 80 miles per hour in some areas.
Shaylan Verploegen shared video from north of Havre, showing a huge “wall” of dirt and dust in a unique weather phenomenon known as a haboob; watch the video and see other viewer photos here:
Fast-moving front kicks up walls of dust
The strong winds caused some damage. There were trees blown over in Havre, Great Falls, and Helena. Part of a roof was blown off in Box Elder, and there were several carports that were destroyed in Havre. There were also numerous power outages reported across the area, some of which lasted for several hours.
Check out more photos and videos shared by KRTV viewers:
Use the form below to share your photos and/or videos with KRTV
By submitting any photo(s) and/or video(s) (collectively referred to as the “Content”), I attest that I am the creator and owner of the Content, including all copyright and other rights in the Content. I authorize Scripps Media, Inc. (“Scripps”) to use, edit, reproduce, distribute, publicly display, share, and/or transmit the Content worldwide, in perpetuity, and without restriction, including without limitation television broadcasts, digital/websites, social media, printed publication, promotions, commercial uses, and by or on any other media source or platform whether now existing or later devised, whether owned or operated by Scripps, Scripps’ parents, subsidiaries or affiliated companies, or third parties (collectively, the “Scripps Parties”) for their further use, distribution, public display, and transmission. I understand that I will not be compensated under any circumstance for providing Content to Scripps or for any use of the Content by the Scripps Parties. I waive any right to inspect and/or approve such use of the Content. I have received written permission to submit the Content for use by the Scripps Parties from any recognizable individuals that may appear in the Content. I attest that the Scripps Parties’ use of the Content will not infringe on any third party’s intellectual property rights. I release, discharge, and agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Scripps Parties from any and all liability, loss, damage (including consequential damages), costs, loss of services, claims, including without limitation attorney’s fees, arising from or related to the Scripps Parties’ use of the Content. I understand and agree that Scripps is under no obligation to use the Content. I represent that I am at least 18 years of age and am fully competent to provide this permission and to make these representations.
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 13, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from May 13 drawing
22-31-52-56-67, Powerball: 15, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto America numbers from May 13 drawing
17-18-28-37-42, Star Ball: 04, ASB: 02
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from May 13 drawing
02-06-10-16, Bonus: 16
Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from May 13 drawing
08-13-39-63-66, Powerball: 02
Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Montana Cash numbers from May 13 drawing
02-04-13-17-32
Check Montana Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 13 drawing
21-24-29-42-49, Bonus: 01
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
- Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
- Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 9:15 p.m. MT daily.
Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Montana
Public Meeting at Hub on Smith Concerning Montana Water Call Prompting Priority Administration in Tongue Basin
Wyoming State Engineer Brandon Gebhart announced that on May 5, 2026, the State of Montana placed a call under Article V(A) of the Yellowstone River Compact to fill Tongue River Reservoir in Montana. As a result, priority administration is in effect on post-1950 water rights in Wyoming that divert water from the Tongue River and its tributaries and are not excluded from the compact.
A public meeting will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 18, in the dining room of The Hub on Smith. Attendees are asked to enter on the north side of the building.
The Tongue River Basin has been experiencing drought conditions over the past year with historically low winter snowpack and streamflow conditions. According to the release, those conditions led to Montana’s interstate call and prompted the administration of the Tongue River Basin in Wyoming.
The priority administration will affect post-1950 water rights within the Tongue River Basin, including reservoir storage, stream diversions and groundwater withdrawals, all of which affect river flows. Post-1950 water rights will be regulated off or prevented from turning on. Wyoming hydrographer-commissioners will continue to administer reservoir storage and post-1950 diversions throughout the spring and work with affected water users until the administration is lifted.
As provided in the compact, domestic uses less than one-half acre in area and livestock uses, including stock reservoirs less than 20 acre-feet in capacity, are excluded from this administration. The release noted these excluded rights could be subject to future regulation to satisfy priority calls by senior Wyoming water rights.
Beginning May 5, 2026, Wyoming hydrographer-commissioners have worked to record the current storage levels of reservoirs with post-1950 water rights. Going forward, those reservoirs can continue to accrue storage so long as post-1950 storage gained after the interstate call on May 5 remains in storage until either the water is released to satisfy the Montana call or Montana lifts the call because Tongue River Reservoir will fill.
Reservoirs with unfulfilled pre-1950 water rights can continue to store water and that storage will not be subject to release to satisfy Montana’s call. However, that storage and other direct flow rights could be subject to regulation to satisfy priority calls by senior Wyoming water rights.
The priority administration will be carried out pursuant to state law by hydrographer-commissioners assigned to various portions of the Tongue River Basin, working under the direction of Division II Superintendent David Schroeder.
The Wyoming State Engineer’s Office can be contacted at:
Jack Morey, deputy state engineer, 307-777-5032, jack.morey2@wyo.gov
David Schroeder, Division II superintendent, 307-674-7012, d.schroeder@wyo.gov
Jeff Cowley, interstate streams administrator, 307-777-1942, jeff.cowley@wyo.gov
-
Oregon2 minutes agoOregon man shot at In-N-Out drive-thru drove family to safety with bullet lodged in head
-
Pennsylvania8 minutes agoAn Outpouring of Frustration Over Pennsylvania’s Rapid Data Center Growth – Inside Climate News
-
Rhode Island14 minutes agoFlags are at half-staff in Rhode Island today. Here’s why
-
South-Carolina20 minutes agoSouth Carolina Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 results for May 14, 2026
-
South Dakota26 minutes agoMr. Basketball award is presented annual by Hansen Anderson Basketball
-
Tennessee32 minutes agoChildhood friends reunite during cancer treatments 50 years after serving in Tennessee National Guard together
-
Texas38 minutes agoBest social media reactions from Texas A&M’s 18-11 loss to MSU
-
Utah44 minutes agoA new law in Utah allows students to opt out of coursework that conflicts with their beliefs