Area snowpack improves

Winter has upped its game since The Monitor reported on low snow levels in area mountains (Jan. 22) — and, in fact, snowpack levels have improved. The snow at Frohner Meadow on Feb. 10 was 24 inches deep, up from 17 inches three weeks earlier. That’s 90% of the snow-water equivalent median from 1991-2000, the baseline used by the U.S. Agriculture Department’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. 

At Rocker Peak, there was 34 inches of snow on Feb. 10, or 80% of the historical median. That was up from 28 inches last month. And Tizer Basin measured 30 inches, or 92% of median, up from 24 inches.

The USDA noted that snow levels are still low across much of the state. “Lack of early season snowfall left most of Montana with a deficit. Most mountain ranges are still recovering from that deficit,” said hydrologist Eric Larson in a statement.