SEE: This Is Where Montana Might Have Greatest Drought Issues

Drought in Montana is always a serious problem - not just because of wildfire risk during summer months, but because our population continues to rise and everyone needs clean drinking water. This year, there are some real areas of concern.

Numbers used in forecasting drought likelihood are usually in Snow Water Equivalent percentages. Those are measured at SNOTEL sites across the state, and are broken up into regions.

• SOUTHWEST MONTANA from USDA SNOTEL sites (April 28, 2025)
• Island Park SNOTEL: 6,300 ft./26% of 1991-2020 Median
• Crab Creek SNOTEL: 6,870 ft./20% of 1991-2020 Median
• West Yellowstone SNOTEL: 6,680 ft./9% of 1991-2020 Median
• Divide SNOTEL: 7,770 ft./66% of 1991-2020 Median
• Lemhi Ridge SNOTEL: 8,080 ft./63% of 1991-2020 Median
• Moose Creek SNOTEL: 6,170 ft./34% of 1991-2020 Median

There are several drought measuring platforms that check snow and/or water levels across Montana. Most of them are federal, although the State of Montana also has some county by county stations.

USDA National Water & Climate Center

Montana Snow Water Equivalent Maps

Drought.gov

• 100% of people in Powell County are currently affected by drought (as of late April 2025).
• 99.8% of people in Lewis And Clark County are currently affected by drought (as of late April 2025).
• 87.4% of people in Missoula County are currently affected by drought (as of late April 2025).

Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) is a measure of the amount of water contained within a snowpack, expressed as the depth of water that would result if the snow melted completely.

It's essentially the depth of liquid water equivalent to the volume of snow.

This measure is crucial for understanding water availability, particularly in regions where snowmelt is a primary source of water. (USDA.gov)

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