The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-03-11
SNOW DEEP AND PACKED
Weather Bureau Issues Bulletin Con-
tanning Information Pleasing to
Various Industries.

whole the snowfall in tie state was
considerably above the average and
an abundance of water seems to be
assured from that source, according to
the snow bulletin for February is
sued by the Montana section director
of the climate and crop service, ex-
cerpts from which follow:
General Summary.
Over the greater portion of the
state the February snowfall was above
normal, in some sections very much
so; the most notable exception was
the region including southern Teton,
and the greater portion of Cascade
and Lewis and Clarke counties, where
the fall varied from about normal to
considerably below.
The mountains of Meagher, Fergus,
Broadwater, Gallatin, Jefferson, Madi-
son and Beaverhead counties contain
ed, on February 20, considerably
more than the usual amount of snow
in many sections more than for sew
eral years. There was also a consid-
cradle excess west of the main divide
in Powell, Granite, Deer Lodge and
Silver Bow counties, much of it badly
drifted. The depth was greater than
usual in Ravalli, Missoula and south
ern Flathead counties, and about the
same as usual in northern F1athead.
On the east side of the main range
there vas also more than the usual
southern part of the county and in
the greater portion of Lewis and
Clarke county there was only a nor
NAL depth or less. In the counties
strained by the Yellowstone river the
samount of snow in the mountains
varied from a slight excess in south.
ern Rosebud and southern Sweet
Grass counties to a slight deficiency
in eastern Carbon county.
The snow in the mountains at the
end OF the month was generally solidly
frozen or wind-packed, except in Flat
head and Missoula counties, where
there was much soft 10Y lying where
it fell. On the stock ranges of the
state the snow was generally deeper
than usual and was crusted in some
localities; in many sections it serious
ly interfered with grazing. Range
grass was generally very short.
Though very few low temperatures
were recorded, cold weather was very
continuous in the eastern and north,
eastern counties (the mea monthly
temperature at Culbertson, Valley
county, was below zero). Altogether
the month was very detrimental to
range stock, and where feeding could
not be resorted to they we're in very
poor condition by the end of the
month, though actual losses were few.
Missouri River Watershed.
On the eastern side of the main
divide in Lewis and Clarke county
north of Baldbutte and in southern
Teton county the amount in the noun
tains and the February fall varied
from normal to considerably below.
In northern Teton county the amount
was greater than usual. At the north
ern extremity of the Big Belt moun
tains the February fail was less than
usual and the amount on the ground
varied. In the Little Belt and Badly
mountains, in Meagher and Cascade
counties there vas more than usual,
well packed; but over much of Cas-
cade county the monthly fall and
amount on ground varied from aver
age to considerably below. In the
Highwood mountains there was an
unusual amount of hardJpacked snow
In drifts; in the Sweetgrass hills
there was an average amount, drifted
on the north side, but crusted and
evenly distributed on the south side.
In the Bearpaw and Little Rocky
mountains the depth varied from nor
NAL to below; it was generally solid.
Judith NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. have
been numerous, and strong winds have
drifted the snow into ravines and
coulees. The amount of snow on the
ground was greater than usual.
Musselshell River-In the region
drained by the Musselshell river there
was much nor than the usual
amount OF snow, which was well
packed.
Yellowstone River-On the east
slope of the Gallatin range, in Park
county. there was from an average
to less than the average amount OF
SNOW. In eastern and northern Park
c0untv there was more than usual,