Snowpack ends up less than expected

A spring snowstorm still was dropping the white stuff in the Havre area this morning, although the amount dropped yesterday and last night was far less than originally forecast. The National Weather Service, which had forecast snow accumulations in Havre of up to 15 inches by this afternoon with as much as eight or 10 inches by this morning, reported that by 6 a.m. today it had recorded only 2.5 inches of snow accumulation with a standing depth of one inch. Great Falls, also in the middle of the storm that crossed over the divide and along the Rocky Mountain Front to the south-central part of Montana and to about the middle of the state, received the largest amount of snow, the Weather Service reports. The city received 12.8 inches of snow yesterday, with a standing depth of 9 inches. The storm did drop some greatly needed moisture in the Hi-Line area. Monday, the weather service reported Havre had received only a trace of moisture for the month and .91 inches for the year, compared for a normal amount on that date of 1.76 inches. The snow in the last few days has added a half inch to that, with the yearly total now listed as 1.41 inches for the year compared to a normal amount of 1.82 inches. The total snow accumulation for Havre today, with a forecast of snow before noon and a chance of rain and snow this afternoon, is predicted at one to two inches. A chance of snow showers also is forecast through this evening. The storm is expected to stay throughout the region today, with an area from the Rocky Mountain Front to Blaine County down to Great Falls also expected to receive one to two inches. The weather is expected to warm up the rest of the week, with the Havre forecast for highs in the 50s Thursday and 60s through Tuesday. Aside from a chance of showers and thunderstorms Thursday evening, the forecast is for mostly sunny skies through Tuesday.