Dry winter raises wildfire concerns in Montana

BOZEMAN, Mont. — The unusually dry winter in Montana has led to concerns about the potential for wildfires in the upcoming spring and summer months, with a group of fires already sparking in Musselshell County in February. 

Eric Larson, a hydrologist with the Montana Snow Survey, explained the unusual weather patterns this winter, noting the impact of warmer temperatures and rain events in the mountains. 

"It's been an odd year. I mean, it's been warm. There's been rain events even in the mountains," he said. 

The Montana Snow Survey monitors snowpack in the mountains to predict spring and summer runoff. There was a good start to the cold season with snow in December, however January and February saw very little snowfall. Much of the snow was also melted by warm temperatures and rain. 

Along with that, while mountains and higher elevations have retained snowpack, many valleys have kept very little. 

In Musselshell County, recent wildfires have raised questions about the impact of low snowpack. NonStop Local asked Fire Chief Justin Russell whether he believes the low snowpack contributed to the fires. 

"Absolutely. We haven't really had snow on the ground since about a month ago. We had about four inches of snow, but it only lasted for about 3 or 4 days, and then it melted off. And so normally we do have snow on the ground at this time of year," Russell said. 

Larson noted that while it is too early to predict the impact of this year's snowpack on wildfire conditions in the summer, more snow with a slow runoff would be beneficial. 

“Late winter and early spring months are some of the wettest months in Montana, but there have been a handful of years when we've made decent recoveries during the spring," he said. 

Counties such as Gallatin and Musselshell have offered programs to help homeowners identify and remove potential wildfire fuels. Larson advised residents to continue monitoring the weather and snowpack.