Snowpack recovery improves streamflow forecasts

Following on the heels of January's abundant snowfall, February also delivered above normal to record-setting snowfall in mountain ranges supplying water to regional rivers and streams. New records were set for February snowfall at seven mountain SNOTEL (SNOwpack TELemetry) sites in southern and central Montana that were favored by the unstable north-northwest flow coming from Canada during the first three weeks of the month.

The recovery in snowpack was well timed. "January and February snowfall took the dismal snowpack totals reported on January 1 along the Montana/Idaho border and improv...