National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Missouri Basin River Forecast Center
Water Supply Statement
Issued in cooperation with the Natural
Resources Conservation Service
Issued:  October 21, 2019

 

UPPER MISSOURI BASIN

 

September precipitation across the Upper Missouri Basin was above average.
Basin precipitation summaries for the Missouri Basin include: Milk St. Mary,
138 percent; Milk Canada, 118 percent; Lower Milk, 408 percent; above Toston,
175 percent; Toston to Ft. Peck, 259 percent.

Of the four major irrigation reservoirs in Montana; Lima
Reservoir had 151 percent average storage, Clark Canyon was
holding 114 percent of average water, Gibson Reservoir had 32
percent of average stored water, and Fresno Reservoir had
129 percent of average stored water.

The major hydroelectric reservoirs in Montana (Canyon Ferry and
Fort Peck), had monthend storage in the average to above
average range; 100 and 125 percent of average water, respectively.

 

 

YELLOWSTONE BASIN

Precipitation during September was above average. The upper Yellowstone River Basin received 268 percent of average precipitation while the Lower Yellowstone River Basin reported 361 percent of average. The Bighorn Basin received 256 percent of average precipitation while the Wind River Basin received 185 percent of average. The Little Bighorn - Upper Tongue Basin received 167 percent of average and the Powder River had 209 percent of average precipitation.


Monthend storage at Boysen Reservoir was 111 percent of average. Stored water in Buffalo Bill Reservoir was 132 percent of average. Monthend storage was 106 percent of average at Bighorn Reservoir.

 

PLATTE BASIN

 

Precipitation during September in the Upper North Platte Basin was 56 percent of average. In the Lower North Platte Basin, precipitation was 82 percent of average. The North Platte Plains below Guernsy Reservoir had 72 percent. The South Platte Mountains had 71 percent whereas the Plains had 106 percent of average September precipitation.

Stored water in the South Platte Basin was 128 percent of average on October 1.
 

 

PRECIPITATION MAPS
September 2019  WY 2019
September 2019 Precipitation Percent of 1981-2010 Average WY2019 Precipitation as Percent of 1981-2010 Average
September 2019 Basin Mean Precipitation          WY2019 Basin Mean Precipitation
September 2019 MBRFC Basin Mean Precipitation      WY2019 MBRFC Basin Mean Precipitation