Montana Snow Precipitation Update
United States Natural Resources Water and Climate Center
Department of Conservation Portland, Oregon
Agriculture Service
S N O W - P R E C I P I T A T I O N U P D A T E
Based on Mountain Data from NRCS SNOTEL Sites
As of WEDNESDAY: OCTOBER 21 , 2026
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BASIN ELEV. SNOW WATER EQUIVALENT TOTAL PRECIPITATION
Data Site Name (Ft) % %
Current Median Median Current Median Med
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MONTANA
KOOTENAI RIVER BASIN
Banfield Mountain 5580 .0 .0 * .2 1.2 17
Bear Mountain 5460 .0 .0 * .2 4.2 5
Garver Creek 4250 .1 .0 * .6 1.0 60
Grave Creek 4350 .0 .0 * .1 2.4 4
Hand Creek 5030 .0 .0 * .3 1.0 30
Hawkins Lake 6460 .0 .3 0* .6 2.3 26
Poorman Creek 5050 .2 .0 * .7 3.4 21
Stahl Peak 6040 .6 1.1 55* .1 2.4 4
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Basin Index (%) 64* 16
FLATHEAD RIVER BASIN
Ashley Divide 4820 -M -M * .4 -M *
Badger Pass 6870 .0 .7 0* 1.3 2.5 52
Bassoo Peak 5130 .1 -M * .6 -M *
Bisson Creek 4880 .0 .0 * .4 1.3 31
Blacktail Mtn 5660 .0 .0 * .5 .9 56
Emery Creek 4340 .0 .0 * .3 1.6 19
Flattop Mtn. 6280 .0 .7 0* .4 3.0 13
Grave Creek 4350 .0 .0 * .1 2.4 4
Hand Creek 5030 .0 .0 * .3 1.0 30
Kraft Creek 4770 .0 .0 * .6 1.6 38
Moss Peak 6760 .2 1.4 14* .8 2.7 30
Noisy Basin 6070 .4 .2 200* .6 2.3 26
North Fork Jocko 6110 .0 .2 0* 1.2 3.0 40
Pike Creek 5930 .1 -M * 1.4 -M *
Sleeping Woman 6120 .0 .0 * 1.1 1.6 69
Stahl Peak 6040 .6 1.1 55* .1 2.4 4
Stuart Mountain 7270 .2 .5 40* .7 1.8 39
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Basin Index (%) 29* 30
UPPER CLARK FORK RIVER BASIN
Barker Lakes 8250 .7 1.1 64* 1.4 1.8 78
Basin Creek 7120 .6 .4 150* -M 1.2 *
Black Pine 7170 .0 .0 * 1.7 1.4 121
Combination 5620 .2 .0 * 1.2 1.1 109
Copper Bottom 5200 .0 .0 * .4 1.0 40
Copper Camp 6980 .0 .0 * 1.4 1.9 74
Lubrecht Flume 4690 .0 .0 * 1.0 .9 111
Nevada Ridge 7030 .6 .2 300* 2.3 1.6 144
N Fk Elk Creek 6180 .0 .0 * 1.3 1.0 130
North Fork Jocko 6110 .0 .2 0* 1.2 3.0 40
Peterson Meadows 7190 .2 .2 100* .8 1.4 57
Skalkaho Summit 7260 .1 .2 50* .7 1.2 58
Stuart Mountain 7270 .2 .5 40* .7 1.8 39
Warm Springs 7840 .3 1.0 30* .9 1.9 47
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Basin Index (%) 76* 75
BITTERROOT RIVER BASIN
Daly Creek 5780 .1 .0 * .6 .9 67
Lolo Pass 5280 .1 .0 * .5 1.7 29
Moose Creek 6170 .1 .0 * 1.2 1.3 92
Nez Perce Camp 5670 .1 .0 * .6 1.3 46
Saddle Mtn. 7890 .6 .4 150* 1.2 1.2 100
Skalkaho Summit 7260 .1 .2 50* .7 1.2 58
Twelvemile Creek 5530 .1 .0 * .6 1.9 32
Twin Lakes 6380 .1 .0 * .8 2.3 35
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Basin Index (%) 217* 53
LOWER CLARK FORK RIVER BASIN
Bear Mountain 5460 .0 .0 * .2 4.2 5
Hoodoo Basin 6060 .0 .0 * .6 2.4 25
Humboldt Gulch 4260 .0 .0 * .1 2.1 5
Lookout 5180 .1 .0 * .3 1.6 19
Mosquito Ridge 5270 .1 .0 * .3 2.2 14
Poorman Creek 5050 .2 .0 * .7 3.4 21
Sleeping Woman 6120 .0 .0 * 1.1 1.6 69
Stuart Mountain 7270 .2 .5 40* .7 1.8 39
Sunset 5570 .0 .0 * .2 2.2 9
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Basin Index (%) 120* 20
JEFFERSON RIVER BASIN
Albro Lake 8500 1.0 1.2 83* 2.4 1.8 133
Barker Lakes 8250 .7 1.1 64* 1.4 1.8 78
Basin Creek 7120 .6 .4 150* -M 1.2 *
Beagle Springs 8880 .4 .3 133* 1.5 1.1 136
Bloody Dick 7570 .3 .0 * 1.3 1.4 93
Calvert Creek 6410 .0 .0 * 1.0 .9 111
Clover Meadow 8770 .4 1.2 33* 1.5 1.8 83
Darkhorse Lake 8930 .7 1.5 47* 1.1 1.8 61
Divide 7770 .6 .0 * 1.4 1.2 117
Frohner Meadow 6520 .1 .0 * 1.8 1.2 150
JL Meadow 8750 1.0 -M * 1.2 -M *
Lakeview Ridge 7340 .0 .0 * 1.7 1.2 142
Lemhi Ridge 8080 .7 .2 350* 1.6 1.6 100
Lower Twin 7920 .7 .7 100* 1.6 2.0 80
Moose Creek 6170 .1 .0 * 1.2 1.3 92
Mule Creek 8300 .7 .8 88* 1.2 1.3 92
Rocker Peak 7960 .7 .8 88* 1.5 1.5 100
Saddle Mtn. 7890 .6 .4 150* 1.2 1.2 100
Short Creek 6990 .1 .0 * 1.6 1.0 160
Slagamelt Lakes 8600 .0 -M * 1.1 -M *
White Elephant 7670 .0 .0 * 1.6 1.6 100
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Basin Index (%) 98* 104
MADISON RIVER BASIN
Albro Lake 8500 1.0 1.2 83* 2.4 1.8 133
Beaver Creek 7820 .1 .5 20* 1.4 1.6 88
Black Bear 8160 .1 1.7 6* 1.3 2.6 50
Canyon 7870 .1 .3 33* 1.3 1.4 93
Carrot Basin 9200 .1 1.6 6* 1.6 2.0 80
Clover Meadow 8770 .4 1.2 33* 1.5 1.8 83
Lone Mountain 8820 .0 .6 0* 1.1 1.7 65
Lower Twin 7920 .7 .7 100* 1.6 2.0 80
Madison Plateau 7710 .1 .6 17* 1.4 1.8 78
Tepee Creek 7950 .1 .2 50* 1.0 1.2 83
West Yellowstone 6680 .1 .0 * 1.4 1.0 140
Whiskey Creek 6790 .1 .0 * 1.6 1.4 114
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Basin Index (%) 34* 87
GALLATIN RIVER BASIN
Beaver Creek 7820 .1 .5 20* 1.4 1.6 88
Brackett Creek 7370 .1 .5 20* 2.3 2.4 96
Carrot Basin 9200 .1 1.6 6* 1.6 2.0 80
Lick Creek 6880 .2 .0 * 1.2 1.8 67
Lone Mountain 8820 .0 .6 0* 1.1 1.7 65
Sacajawea 6610 .0 .0 * 2.1 2.4 88
Shower Falls 8060 .8 1.6 50* 1.6 2.4 67
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Basin Index (%) 27* 79
HELENA VALLEY
Boulder Mountain 7890 1.1 .8 138* 2.5 1.8 139
Frohner Meadow 6520 .1 .0 * 1.8 1.2 150
Nevada Ridge 7030 .6 .2 300* 2.3 1.6 144
Tizer Basin 6880 1.1 .4 275* -M 1.3 *
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Basin Index (%) 207* 143
SMITH, JUDITH, AND MUSSELSHELL RIVER BASINS
Boulder Mountain 7890 1.1 .8 138* 2.5 1.8 139
Crystal Lake 6130 .3 .3 100* -M 1.8 *
Daisy Peak 7590 1.1 .2 550* 3.0 1.3 231
Deadman Creek 6440 .0 .0 * 1.7 1.1 155
Elk Peak 7600 -M -M * -M -M *
Onion Park 7420 .4 .1 400* 2.1 1.6 131
Pickfoot Creek 6680 .2 -M * 3.1 -M *
Spur Park 8080 1.7 1.3 131* 2.5 1.3 192
Stringer Creek 6550 .4 .0 * 1.8 1.5 120
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Basin Index (%) 185* 158
SUN, TETON AND MARIAS RIVER BASINS
Badger Pass 6870 .0 .7 0* 1.3 2.5 52
Dupuyer Creek 5740 .2 .0 * 1.6 1.4 114
Mount Lockhart 6430 .1 .3 33* 1.0 1.8 56
Pike Creek 5930 .1 -M * 1.4 -M *
Waldron 5640 .2 .0 * .9 1.4 64
Wood Creek 5970 .1 .0 * 1.8 1.4 129
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Basin Index (%) 60* 78
ST. MARYS RIVER BASIN
Flattop Mtn. 6280 .0 .7 0* .4 3.0 13
Many Glacier 4930 .0 .0 * .5 2.4 21
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Basin Index (%) 0* 17
MILK RIVER BASIN
Rocky Boy 4730 .0 .0 * 1.3 1.2 108
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Basin Index (%) * 108
UPPER YELLOWSTONE RIVER BASIN
Beartooth Lake 9360 .4 1.4 29* .7 1.4 50
Box Canyon 6720 .0 .0 * 1.4 1.4 100
Brackett Creek 7370 .1 .5 20* 2.3 2.4 96
Burnt Mtn 5920 .0 .0 * .9 1.9 47
Canyon 7870 .1 .3 33* 1.3 1.4 93
Cole Creek 7910 .0 1.4 0* .6 2.0 30
East Boulder Mine 6310 .0 .0 * .5 1.8 28
Evening Star 9030 .1 1.2 8* 1.3 2.1 62
Fisher Creek 9110 .7 1.4 50* 1.8 2.1 86
Monument Peak 8740 1.0 1.2 83* 1.8 1.7 106
Northeast Entrance 7420 .0 .0 * 1.0 1.1 91
Parker Peak 9420 .1 1.4 7* .7 1.9 37
Placer Basin 8790 .2 1.3 15* .8 2.0 40
Porcupine 6480 .1 .0 * 1.3 1.5 87
Sacajawea 6610 .0 .0 * 2.1 2.4 88
Shower Falls 8060 .8 1.6 50* 1.6 2.4 67
S Fork Shields 8090 .0 .8 0* 1.1 2.2 50
Sylvan Lake 8440 .0 .8 0* 1.6 2.0 80
Thumb Divide 7970 .1 .0 * 1.5 1.4 107
Two Ocean Plateau 9240 .5 2.0 25* 1.9 1.8 106
White Mill 8730 .3 .9 33* 1.4 1.6 88
Wolverine 7660 .0 .0 * .8 1.3 62
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Basin Index (%) 28* 71
BIGHORN RIVER BASIN (WYOMING)
Bald Mtn. 9360 .2 2.0 10* 1.9 2.0 95
Bear Trap Meadow 8200 .1 .1 100* 1.1 1.2 92
Blackwater 9830 .5 1.6 31* 1.8 1.9 95
Bone Springs Div 9340 .0 1.5 0* 1.4 1.8 78
Burroughs Creek 8760 .0 -M * 2.8 -M *
Castle Creek 8410 .0 .0 * 1.8 1.0 180
Cold Springs 9640 .0 .2 0* 1.8 1.0 180
Deer Park 9690 .1 .9 11* 3.8 1.4 271
Evening Star 9030 .1 1.2 8* 1.3 2.1 62
Grave Springs 8560 .1 .2 50* 1.6 1.0 160
Hobbs Park 10080 .4 1.2 33* 2.0 1.4 143
Kirwin 9580 .0 1.0 0* 1.9 1.2 158
Little Warm 9370 .0 .4 0* 2.2 1.2 183
Marquette 8800 .1 .5 20* 1.0 1.4 71
Middle Powder 7760 .0 .4 0* 1.3 1.4 93
Owl Creek 8990 .0 .2 0* 1.3 1.0 130
Powder River Pass 9480 .1 .8 12* 1.5 1.4 107
Shell Creek 9570 .0 2.0 0 1.4 1.6 88
South Pass 9040 .0 .4 0* 2.4 1.2 200
St. Lawrence Alt 8610 .2 -M * 1.4 -M *
Sylvan Lake 8440 .0 .8 0* 1.6 2.0 80
Sylvan Road 7140 .0 .0 * 1.4 1.4 100
Timber Creek 7910 .0 .1 0* 1.2 1.3 92
Togwotee Pass 9590 .1 1.5 7* 2.2 2.0 110
Townsend Creek 8720 .2 .0 * 2.2 1.3 169
Younts Peak 8340 .3 .5 60* 2.7 1.2 225
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Basin Index (%) 13* 124
TONGUE RIVER BASIN (WYOMING)
Big Goose 8010 .0 .4 0* .8 1.4 57
Bone Springs Div 9340 .0 1.5 0* 1.4 1.8 78
Burgess Junction 7910 .1 .6 17* .9 1.6 56
Dome Lake 8890 .1 .9 11* 1.2 1.6 75
Little Goose 8560 .1 .0 * .8 1.6 50
Sucker Creek 8840 .1 .8 12* .8 1.6 50
Tie Creek 7050 .1 .0 * .8 1.3 62
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Basin Index (%) 12* 61
POWDER RIVER BASIN (WYOMING)
Bear Trap Meadow 8200 .1 .1 100* 1.1 1.2 92
Cloud Peak Reservoir 9830 .0 1.0 0* 1.1 2.0 55
Grave Springs 8560 .1 .2 50* 1.6 1.0 160
Hanson Sawmill 8360 .1 .0 * .8 1.2 67
Middle Powder 7760 .0 .4 0* 1.3 1.4 93
Powder River Pass 9480 .1 .8 12* 1.5 1.4 107
Soldier Park 8680 .0 .0 * .7 1.5 47
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Basin Index (%) 16* 84
Missouri River Basin ab Ft. Peck
Albro Lake 8500 1.0 1.2 83* 2.4 1.8 133
Badger Pass 6870 .0 .7 0* 1.3 2.5 52
Barker Lakes 8250 .7 1.1 64* 1.4 1.8 78
Basin Creek 7120 .6 .4 150* -M 1.2 *
Beagle Springs 8880 .4 .3 133* 1.5 1.1 136
Beaver Creek 7820 .1 .5 20* 1.4 1.6 88
Black Bear 8160 .1 1.7 6* 1.3 2.6 50
Bloody Dick 7570 .3 .0 * 1.3 1.4 93
Boulder Mountain 7890 1.1 .8 138* 2.5 1.8 139
Brackett Creek 7370 .1 .5 20* 2.3 2.4 96
Calvert Creek 6410 .0 .0 * 1.0 .9 111
Canyon 7870 .1 .3 33* 1.3 1.4 93
Carrot Basin 9200 .1 1.6 6* 1.6 2.0 80
Clover Meadow 8770 .4 1.2 33* 1.5 1.8 83
Crystal Lake 6130 .3 .3 100* -M 1.8 *
Daisy Peak 7590 1.1 .2 550* 3.0 1.3 231
Darkhorse Lake 8930 .7 1.5 47* 1.1 1.8 61
Deadman Creek 6440 .0 .0 * 1.7 1.1 155
Divide 7770 .6 .0 * 1.4 1.2 117
Dupuyer Creek 5740 .2 .0 * 1.6 1.4 114
Elk Peak 7600 -M -M * -M -M *
Frohner Meadow 6520 .1 .0 * 1.8 1.2 150
JL Meadow 8750 1.0 -M * 1.2 -M *
Lakeview Ridge 7340 .0 .0 * 1.7 1.2 142
Lemhi Ridge 8080 .7 .2 350* 1.6 1.6 100
Lick Creek 6880 .2 .0 * 1.2 1.8 67
Lone Mountain 8820 .0 .6 0* 1.1 1.7 65
Lower Twin 7920 .7 .7 100* 1.6 2.0 80
Madison Plateau 7710 .1 .6 17* 1.4 1.8 78
Moose Creek 6170 .1 .0 * 1.2 1.3 92
Mount Lockhart 6430 .1 .3 33* 1.0 1.8 56
Mule Creek 8300 .7 .8 88* 1.2 1.3 92
Nevada Ridge 7030 .6 .2 300* 2.3 1.6 144
Onion Park 7420 .4 .1 400* 2.1 1.6 131
Pickfoot Creek 6680 .2 -M * 3.1 -M *
Pike Creek 5930 .1 -M * 1.4 -M *
Rocker Peak 7960 .7 .8 88* 1.5 1.5 100
Sacajawea 6610 .0 .0 * 2.1 2.4 88
Saddle Mtn. 7890 .6 .4 150* 1.2 1.2 100
Short Creek 6990 .1 .0 * 1.6 1.0 160
Shower Falls 8060 .8 1.6 50* 1.6 2.4 67
Slagamelt Lakes 8600 .0 -M * 1.1 -M *
Spur Park 8080 1.7 1.3 131* 2.5 1.3 192
Stringer Creek 6550 .4 .0 * 1.8 1.5 120
Tepee Creek 7950 .1 .2 50* 1.0 1.2 83
Tizer Basin 6880 1.1 .4 275* -M 1.3 *
Waldron 5640 .2 .0 * .9 1.4 64
West Yellowstone 6680 .1 .0 * 1.4 1.0 140
Whiskey Creek 6790 .1 .0 * 1.6 1.4 114
White Elephant 7670 .0 .0 * 1.6 1.6 100
Wood Creek 5970 .1 .0 * 1.8 1.4 129
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Basin Index (%) 86* 100
Yellowstone River Basin ab Glendive
Bald Mtn. 9360 .2 2.0 10* 1.9 2.0 95
Bear Trap Meadow 8200 .1 .1 100* 1.1 1.2 92
Beartooth Lake 9360 .4 1.4 29* .7 1.4 50
Big Goose 8010 .0 .4 0* .8 1.4 57
Blackwater 9830 .5 1.6 31* 1.8 1.9 95
Bone Springs Div 9340 .0 1.5 0* 1.4 1.8 78
Box Canyon 6720 .0 .0 * 1.4 1.4 100
Brackett Creek 7370 .1 .5 20* 2.3 2.4 96
Burgess Junction 7910 .1 .6 17* .9 1.6 56
Burnt Mtn 5920 .0 .0 * .9 1.9 47
Burroughs Creek 8760 .0 -M * 2.8 -M *
Canyon 7870 .1 .3 33* 1.3 1.4 93
Castle Creek 8410 .0 .0 * 1.8 1.0 180
Cloud Peak Reservoir 9830 .0 1.0 0* 1.1 2.0 55
Cold Springs 9640 .0 .2 0* 1.8 1.0 180
Cole Creek 7910 .0 1.4 0* .6 2.0 30
Deer Park 9690 .1 .9 11* 3.8 1.4 271
Dome Lake 8890 .1 .9 11* 1.2 1.6 75
East Boulder Mine 6310 .0 .0 * .5 1.8 28
Evening Star 9030 .1 1.2 8* 1.3 2.1 62
Fisher Creek 9110 .7 1.4 50* 1.8 2.1 86
Grave Springs 8560 .1 .2 50* 1.6 1.0 160
Hanson Sawmill 8360 .1 .0 * .8 1.2 67
Hobbs Park 10080 .4 1.2 33* 2.0 1.4 143
Kirwin 9580 .0 1.0 0* 1.9 1.2 158
Little Goose 8560 .1 .0 * .8 1.6 50
Little Warm 9370 .0 .4 0* 2.2 1.2 183
Marquette 8800 .1 .5 20* 1.0 1.4 71
Middle Powder 7760 .0 .4 0* 1.3 1.4 93
Monument Peak 8740 1.0 1.2 83* 1.8 1.7 106
Northeast Entrance 7420 .0 .0 * 1.0 1.1 91
Owl Creek 8990 .0 .2 0* 1.3 1.0 130
Parker Peak 9420 .1 1.4 7* .7 1.9 37
Placer Basin 8790 .2 1.3 15* .8 2.0 40
Porcupine 6480 .1 .0 * 1.3 1.5 87
Powder River Pass 9480 .1 .8 12* 1.5 1.4 107
S Fork Shields 8090 .0 .8 0* 1.1 2.2 50
Sacajawea 6610 .0 .0 * 2.1 2.4 88
Shell Creek 9570 .0 2.0 0 1.4 1.6 88
Shower Falls 8060 .8 1.6 50* 1.6 2.4 67
Soldier Park 8680 .0 .0 * .7 1.5 47
South Pass 9040 .0 .4 0* 2.4 1.2 200
St. Lawrence Alt 8610 .2 -M * 1.4 -M *
Sucker Creek 8840 .1 .8 12* .8 1.6 50
Sylvan Lake 8440 .0 .8 0* 1.6 2.0 80
Sylvan Road 7140 .0 .0 * 1.4 1.4 100
Thumb Divide 7970 .1 .0 * 1.5 1.4 107
Tie Creek 7050 .1 .0 * .8 1.3 62
Timber Creek 7910 .0 .1 0* 1.2 1.3 92
Togwotee Pass 9590 .1 1.5 7* 2.2 2.0 110
Townsend Creek 8720 .2 .0 * 2.2 1.3 169
Two Ocean Plateau 9240 .5 2.0 25* 1.9 1.8 106
White Mill 8730 .3 .9 33* 1.4 1.6 88
Wolverine 7660 .0 .0 * .8 1.3 62
Younts Peak 8340 .3 .5 60* 2.7 1.2 225
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Basin Index (%) 21* 91
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-M = Missing data
* = Data may not provide a valid measure of conditions.
Units = inches for the Current and Median (or Average) Snow Water Equivalent and
Total Precipitation values
If the Basin Index (%) value is flagged as potentially
invalid, care should be taken to evaluate if the value is representative
of conditions in the basin.
The SNOW WATER EQUIVALENT Percent of Median (or Average) represents the snow water
equivalent found at selected SNOTEL sites in or near the basin compared to
the Median (or Average) value for those sites on this day.
The TOTAL PRECIPITATION Percent of Median (or Average) represents the total precipitation
(beginning October 1st) found at selected SNOTEL sites in or near the basin
compared to the Median (or Average) value for those sites on this day.
Contact your state water supply staff for assistance.
Medians and averages are calculated for the period 1991-2020.
Provisional data, subject to revision.
* Site -- Either: (a) the current value is missing; (b) the median or
average for the day is not available or is zero; or (c) for snow water
equivalent, the median or average for the day is less than 10% of the maximum
median or average value for the year.
* Basin - More than half of the stations for a basin with medians (or averages) report missing or invalid data
The basin index is calculated as the sum of the valid current values
divided by the sum of the corresponding medians or averages and the resulting fraction
multiplied by 100.
