Continued precipitation will support streamflows, may help diminish summer fire risk
By Jack Reaney ASSOCIATE EDITOR
This winter was no powderfest in Big Sky—Lone Mountain snowpack depth set a new 33-year minimum from Dec. 22 to March 4—but even with Big Sky Resort closed for the season, snowflakes are still coming down.
On April 15, snow water equivalent at Lone Mountain’s 8,800-foot SNOTEL station was 13.3 inches, only .5 inches above the 33-year minimum for April 15.
A few weeks later, after a snowstorm brought more than a foot of snow on May 7 and 8, the SWE increased to 18.1 inches, a significant increase over the 33-year minimum for May 10, of 5.7 inches.
Furthermore, since April 29, the 2024 snowpack has been closer to the 33-year median than the 33-year minimum—that hadn’t happened this winter since Nov. 16.
And on May 10, Lone Mountain’s 18.1-inch snowpack was just 1.5 inches shy of the 33-year median, 19.6 inches. For the first time since mid-October, Big Sky’s snowpack is almost average—92% of the typical May 10 snowpack.
Call that slow and steady progress.
Kristin Gardner, chief executive and science officer for Gallatin River Task Force, looked out the window as heavy snow fell on Wednesday.
“I feel like this might be the biggest storm of the year, which is crazy and really good for snowpack,” Gardner said.
Because the past few weeks have featured stretches of cold and snowy weather, especially at higher elevations, Gardner said the growing snowpack is “huge” for summer water supply.
“That late-season snowpack really helps feed our rivers and streams in the late summer when streamflows are low and temperatures are high,” Gardner said. “It really is helpful and protective for fish populations if we have more water in the river later in the year, and cooler water.”
Every inch of spring snow has benefits, from river health and water supply to wildfire risk.
Despite the low snow year, Big Sky Fire Department Deputy Chief Seth Barker said this summer isn’t quite as “gloom and doom” as people may think, when it comes to potential for wildfire.
“We’re still in really good shape,” he said, noting that Big Sky wasn’t dangerously below average for snowfall this winter. “… It was still a pretty average season for us.”
Rain and snow at this time of year is helpful because it saturates surface level fuels, Barker explained. “It’s really good on the front end” of summer.
However, even in a relatively dry year, Big Sky’s wildland fire danger doesn’t typically emerge until August.
“We’re not like the rest of the state where we jump into wildland danger in June and July,” Barker said.
He added that Big Sky’s north-facing aspects are not problematic. The south-facing aspects are worth keeping an eye on, due to sun exposure.
Plus, rain can be “a double-edged sword,” he said. It’s good for obvious reasons, but can support growth for brush and grasses—low-hanging fuels that can be a problem when they dry out in August and September.
If community members want to learn more about wildfire risk and safety, Barker pointed to the BSFD website and suggested reaching out to Deputy Chief Dustin Tetrault, who can help facilitate a property inspection to ensure homeowners feel comfortable.
Regardless of conditions, the typical summer fire safety rules apply.
“Be responsible, be safe, be an adult out there and be careful,” Barker said.
