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:  April 30, 2026

 

 

                                                        April 1, 2026 Spring and Summer Streamflow Forecasts

 

 Upper Missouri Basin


The high elevation snow pack in the Upper Missouri Basin as of April 1
was below ave
rage.  The snow pack in the St. Mary Basin was 64 percent,
and the Milk River Basin was 77 percent.

March precipitation across the Upper Missouri Basin was near to above average.  
Basin precipitation summaries for the Missouri Basin include: Milk St. Mary,
106 percent; Milk Canada, 94 percent; Lower Milk, 122 percent; above Toston,
78 percent; Toston to Ft. Peck, 164 percent. 

 

March 2026 Upper Missouri Mean Precip                                  Oct-Mar WY2026 Upper Missouri Mean Precip


Stream flow in the Upper Missouri Basin is forecast to be
below average during the upcoming Spring and Summer.
The St. Mary River is forecast to have 60 percent of average
April-September flows. Runoff is expected to range around
82 percent of average for the Missouri Basin above Fort Peck,
Montana.


 


          Upper Missouri April 1, 2026 Spring and Summer Streamflow Forecasts

 

Of the four major irrigation reservoirs in Montana; Lima
Reservoir had 62 percent average storage, Clark Canyon was
holding 42 percent of average water, Gibson Reservoir had 81
percent of average stored water, and Fresno Reservoir had
25 percent of average stored water.



Yellowstone Basin 

The high elevation snow pack in the Yellowstone Basin was below average
on April 1. The snow pack in the Upper Yellowstone Basin was 77 percent
of average. The snow packs in the Wind, Bighorn, and Shoshone Basins were 55,
59, and 41 percent of average, respectively. The snow packs in the Tongue
and Powder basins were 47 and 17 percent of average, respectively.

Precipitation during March ranged from near to below average. The
upper Yellowstone River Basin received 107 percent of average precipitation 
while the Lower Yellowstone River Basin reported 99 percent of average. The
Bighorn Basin received 61 percent of average precipitation while the
Wind River Basin received 49 percent of average. The Little Bighorn -
Upper Tongue Basin received 94 percent of average and the Powder River
had 56 percent of average precipitation.




 March 2026 Yellowstone Mean Precip                                        Oct-Mar WY2026 Yellowstone Mean Precip
 

Forecast streamflow in the Yellowstone Basin is below average 
for the upcoming Spring and Summer.  Stream flow for the
Yellowstone River above Sidney, Montana is forecast to be about 
75 percent of average.  Flow in the Tongue Basin is expected to be
58 percent of average.  Flows in the Powder River are expected
to be about 44 percent of average.

Monthend storage at Boysen Reservoir was 65 percent of average. 
Stored water in Buffalo Bill Reservoir was 67 percent of average. 
Monthend storage was 56 percent of average at Bighorn Reservoir.

 


    Yellowstone April 1, 2026 Spring and Summer Streamflow Forecasts

 

Platte Basin 

The high elevation snow pack in the Upper North Platte Basin was
41 percent of average on April 1.  The snow pack in the North Platte
Basin below Seminoe Reservoir was 30 percent of average.  The snow
pack in the South Platte Basin was 20 percent of average.

Precipitation during March in the Upper North Platte Basin was 58
percent of average.  In the Lower North Platte Basin, precipitation
was 55 percent of average.  The North Platte Plains below Guernsy
Reservoir had 48 percent.  The South Platte Mountains had 64
percent whereas the Plains had 48 percent of average March
precipitation.





 

 March 2026 Platte Mean Precip                                            Oct-Mar WY2026 Platte Mean Precip

 

Stream flow in the Platte Basin is forecast to be below  
average during the upcoming Spring and Summer.
Runoff for streams above Seminoe Reservoir are expected to be
about 59 percent of average. Streams in the South Platte
Basin above South Platte, Colorado can expect 34 percent
of average flow. For the remainder of the South Platte
basin, flows are expected near 47 percent.

Stored water in the South Platte Basin was 86 percent of average
on April 1.



   North Platte Streamflow Fcst                     South Platte Streamflow Fcst


PRECIPITATION MAPS
March 2026  WY 2026
March 2026 Precipitation Percent of 1991-2020 Average WY2026 Precipitation as Percent of 1991-2020 Average
March 2026 Basin Mean Precipitation          WY2026 Basin Mean Precipitation
March 2026 MBRFC Basin Mean Precipitation      WY2026 MBRFC Basin Mean Precipitation

 

WATER SUPPLY FORECAST
NWS MISSOURI BASIN RIVER FORECAST CENTER
PLEASANT HILL MISSOURI

DATA CURRENT AS OF: APRIL 01, 2026


.B KRF 20260930 M DH24 /DC202604011200/DVM06/QVVFZZ5/QVVFZZ1/QVVFZZ9

:MISSOURI/YELLOWSTONE/PLATTE RIVER BASIN FORECASTS


:                          50%       %     10%   90%    AVG
:FORECAST PT   PERIOD     (KAF)     AVG   (KAF) (KAF)  (KAF)
:-----------------------------------------------------------

SBDW4        : Apr-Sep :  385/ :    53:    768/  205:   720
:Boysen Resvr Inflow

SBDW4N       : Apr-Sep :  898/ :   101:   1355/  618:   890
:Boysen Resvr Inflow

LVEW4        : Apr-Sep :  640/ :    65:   1072/  427:   985
:Bighorn R at Kane

LVEW4N       : Apr-Sep : 1288/ :    89:   1954/  856:  1440
:Bighorn R at Kane

MEEW4        : Apr-Sep :  121/ :    62:    214/   70:   196
:Greybull R at Meeteetse

MEEW4N       : Apr-Sep :  121/ :    59:    214/   70:   205
:Greybull R at Meeteetse

CDYW4        : Apr-Sep :  524/ :    64:    681/  408:   815
:Buffalo Bill Resvr Inflow

CDYW4N       : Apr-Sep :  607/ :    67:    755/  482:   910
:Buffalo Bill Resvr Inflow

KEYW4        : Apr-Sep :    5/ :   125:     16/    2:     4
:Keyhole Resvr Inflow

SMYM8        : Apr-Sep :  378/ :    82:    433/  333:   460
:St. Mary R nr Babb

SMYM8N       : Apr-Sep :  341/ :    64:    396/  294:   535
:St. Mary R nr Babb

SMBM8        : Apr-Sep :  266/ :    68:    370/  207:   390
:St. Mary R at Intl Boundary

SMBM8N       : Apr-Sep :  365/ :    55:    454/  308:   660
:St. Mary R at Intl Boundary

PDBM8        : Apr-Sep :    9/ :     8:     29/    6:   113
:Milk R nr Western Crossing

PDBM8N       : Apr-Sep :   14/ :    34:     41/    7:    41
:Milk R nr Western Crossing

ERNM8        : Apr-Sep :  149/ :    69:    231/  139:   215
:Milk R nr Eastern Crossing

ERNM8N       : Apr-Sep :   55/ :    49:    170/   33:   112
:Milk R nr Eastern Crossing

NGTC2        : Apr-Sep :   96/ :    39:    182/   55:   245
:North Platte R nr Northgate

NGTC2N       : Apr-Sep :  147/ :    50:    235/   90:   295
:North Platte R nr Northgate

ECRW4        : Apr-Sep :   89/ :    57:    126/   63:   156
:Encampment R nr Encampment

ECRW4N       : Apr-Sep :  100/ :    60:    136/   74:   166
:Encampment R nr Encampment

KCRW4        : Apr-Sep :   31/ :    58:     41/   22:    53
:Rock Cr nr Arlington

KCRW4N       : Apr-Sep :   33/ :    62:     42/   24:    53
:Rock Cr nr Arlington

SETW4        : Apr-Sep :  394/ :    52:    594/  264:   765
:Seminoe Resvr Inflow

SETW4N       : Apr-Sep :  540/ :    59:    740/  391:   920
:Seminoe Resvr Inflow

WODW4        : Apr-Sep :   12/ :    11:     26/    6:   108
:Laramie R nr Woods Landing

WODW4N       : Apr-Sep :   46/ :    32:     62/   28:   142
:Laramie R nr Woods Landing

SMTW4        : Apr-Sep :   33/ :    60:     46/   22:    55
:Little Laramie R nr Filmore

SMTW4N       : Apr-Sep :   35/ :    61:     48/   24:    57
:Little Laramie R nr Filmore

ANRC2        : Apr-Sep :    8/ :    57:     16/    5:    14
:Antero Resvr Inflow

ANRC2N       : Apr-Sep :    8/ :    57:     16/    5:    14
:Antero Resvr Inflow

SPYC2        : Apr-Sep :   28/ :    49:     41/   22:    57
:Spinney Mountain Resvr Inflow

SPYC2N       : Apr-Sep :   21/ :    47:     38/   11:    45
:Spinney Mountain Resvr Inflow

EVNC2        : Apr-Sep :   33/ :    56:     43/   31:    59
:Elevenmile Canyon Resvr Inflow

EVNC2N       : Apr-Sep :   24/ :    48:     43/   13:    50
:Elevenmile Canyon Resvr Inflow

CHEC2        : Apr-Sep :   42/ :    42:     75/   35:   100
:Cheesman Lk Inflow

CHEC2N       : Apr-Sep :   44/ :    47:     83/   24:    93
:Cheesman Lk Inflow

SPTC2        : Apr-Sep :  236/ :    98:    312/  223:   240
:S Platte R at S Platte

SPTC2N       : Apr-Sep :   69/ :    34:    164/   40:   205
:S Platte R at S Platte

MRRC2        : Apr-Sep :    6/ :    23:     20/    3:    26
:Bear Cr at Morrison

MRRC2N       : Apr-Sep :    6/ :    23:     20/    3:    26
:Bear Cr at Morrison

GLDC2        : Apr-Sep :   35/ :    30:     74/   20:   118
:Clear Cr at Golden

GLDC2N       : Apr-Sep :   44/ :    34:     83/   29:   131
:Clear Cr at Golden

LNSC2        : Apr-Sep :   27/ :    34:     63/   19:    79
:St. Vrain Cr at Lyons

LNSC2N       : Apr-Sep :   43/ :    39:     90/   33:   109
:St. Vrain Cr at Lyons

OROC2        : Apr-Sep :   22/ :    47:     38/   17:    47
:Boulder Cr nr Orodell

OROC2N       : Apr-Sep :   32/ :    62:     54/   23:    52
:Boulder Cr nr Orodell

BELC2        : Apr-Sep :   14/ :    40:     26/    7:    35
:S Boulder Cr nr Eldorado Sprgs

BELC2N       : Apr-Sep :   14/ :    35:     32/    7:    40
:S Boulder Cr nr Eldorado Sprgs

FTDC2        : Apr-Sep :  115/ :   106:    171/   90:   108
:Cache La Poudre at Canyon Mouth

FTDC2N       : Apr-Sep :  144/ :    69:    220/   96:   210
:Cache La Poudre at Canyon Mouth

LRRM8        : Apr-Sep :   22/ :    29:     33/   16:    76
:Lima Resvr Inflow

LRRM8N       : Apr-Sep :   22/ :    28:     33/   16:    79
:Lima Resvr Inflow

CLKM8        : Apr-Sep :   30/ :    27:     41/   27:   110
:Clark Canyon Resvr Inflow

CLKM8N       : Apr-Sep :   58/ :    29:     92/   47:   198
:Clark Canyon Resvr Inflow

BARM8        : Apr-Sep :  102/ :    51:    115/   99:   199
:Beaverhead R at Barretts

BARM8N       : Apr-Sep :   84/ :    30:    122/   73:   280
:Beaverhead R at Barretts

ALRM8        : Apr-Sep :   53/ :    60:     72/   45:    88
:Ruby R Resvr Inflow

ALRM8N       : Apr-Sep :   53/ :    55:     72/   45:    97
:Ruby R Resvr Inflow

MLRM8        : Apr-Sep :  513/ :    86:    709/  445:   595
:Big Hole R nr Melrose

MLRM8N       : Apr-Sep :  578/ :    88:    774/  510:   660
:Big Hole R nr Melrose

HBDM8        : Apr-Sep :  430/ :    92:    485/  372:   465
:Hebgen Resvr Inflow

HBDM8N       : Apr-Sep :  430/ :    92:    485/  372:   465
:Hebgen Resvr Inflow

ELMM8        : Apr-Sep :  615/ :    86:    720/  565:   715
:Ennis Resvr Inflow

ELMM8N       : Apr-Sep :  687/ :    94:    806/  599:   730
:Ennis Resvr Inflow

GLGM8        : Apr-Sep :  429/ :    90:    531/  375:   475
:Gallatin R nr Gateway

GLGM8N       : Apr-Sep :  429/ :    90:    531/  375:   475
:Gallatin R nr Gateway

LOGM8        : Apr-Sep :  389/ :    77:    541/  311:   505
:Gallatin R at Logan

LOGM8N       : Apr-Sep :  527/ :    81:    650/  437:   650
:Gallatin R at Logan

TOSM8        : Apr-Sep : 1444/ :    70:   2003/ 1253:  2060
:Missouri R at Toston

TOSM8N       : Apr-Sep : 2207/ :    78:   2869/ 1965:  2830
:Missouri R at Toston

FBNM8        : Apr-Sep : 1900/ :    62:   2351/ 1731:  3060
:Missouri R at Fort Benton

FBNM8N       : Apr-Sep : 3372/ :    82:   4279/ 3011:  4100
:Missouri R at Fort Benton

VRGM8        : Apr-Sep : 2039/ :    60:   2515/ 1826:  3420
:Missouri R nr Virgelle

VRGM8N       : Apr-Sep : 3846/ :    84:   4815/ 3406:  4560
:Missouri R nr Virgelle

LDKM8        : Apr-Sep : 2189/ :    59:   2738/ 1956:  3680
:Missouri R nr Landusky

LDKM8N       : Apr-Sep : 4045/ :    83:   5164/ 3624:  4890
:Missouri R nr Landusky

FPKM8        : Apr-Sep : 2325/ :    61:   2977/ 2067:  3840
:Missouri R below Fort Peck Dam

FPKM8N       : Apr-Sep : 4261/ :    82:   5488/ 3788:  5180
:Missouri R below Fort Peck Dam

AGSM8        : Apr-Sep :  485/ :   108:    641/  412:   450
:Gibson Resvr Inflow

AGSM8N       : Apr-Sep :  484/ :   108:    641/  412:   450
:Gibson Resvr Inflow

SHLM8        : Apr-Sep :  333/ :    77:    506/  253:   435
:Marias R nr Shelby

SHLM8N       : Apr-Sep :  385/ :    79:    561/  308:   490
:Marias R nr Shelby

HLWM8        : Apr-Sep :   40/ :    50:     74/   25:    80
:Musselshell R at Harlowton

HLWM8N       : Apr-Sep :   52/ :    55:     92/   35:    95
:Musselshell R at Harlowton

YLOW4        : Apr-Sep :  605/ :    74:    702/  501:   815
:Yellowstone R at Yellowstone Lk

YLOW4N       : Apr-Sep :  778/ :    93:    888/  639:   840
:Yellowstone R at Yellowstone Lk

CORM8        : Apr-Sep : 1336/ :    67:   1652/ 1149:  1980
:Yellowstone R at Corwin Sprgs

CORM8N       : Apr-Sep : 1602/ :    77:   1927/ 1369:  2070
:Yellowstone R at Corwin Sprgs

LIVM8        : Apr-Sep : 1529/ :    67:   1915/ 1306:  2290
:Yellowstone R at Livingston

LIVM8N       : Apr-Sep : 1849/ :    76:   2245/ 1576:  2440
:Yellowstone R at Livingston

BILM8        : Apr-Sep : 2321/ :    57:   3126/ 1911:  4070
:Yellowstone R at Billings

BILM8N       : Apr-Sep : 3323/ :    69:   4116/ 2850:  4790
:Yellowstone R at Billings

MILM8        : Apr-Sep : 3463/ :    59:   4614/ 2916:  5850
:Yellowstone R at Miles City

MILM8N       : Apr-Sep : 5593/ :    73:   6959/ 4637:  7690
:Yellowstone R at Miles City

SIDM8        : Apr-Sep : 3275/ :    57:   4554/ 2691:  5710
:Yellowstone R at Sidney

SIDM8N       : Apr-Sep : 5784/ :    72:   7264/ 4750:  8060
:Yellowstone R at Sidney

BTMM8        : Apr-Sep :  181/ :    54:    267/  140:   335
:Boulder R at Big Timber

BTMM8N       : Apr-Sep :  223/ :    59:    307/  183:   375
:Boulder R at Big Timber

SRAM8        : Apr-Sep :  360/ :    67:    477/  304:   540
:Stillwater R nr Absarokee

SRAM8N       : Apr-Sep :  418/ :    70:    532/  364:   595
:Stillwater R nr Absarokee

BFYM8        : Apr-Sep :  436/ :    70:    568/  370:   620
:Clks Fk Yellowstone R nr Belfry

BFYM8N       : Apr-Sep :  508/ :    73:    638/  443:   695
:Clks Fk Yellowstone R nr Belfry

STXM8        : Apr-Sep :  951/ :    67:   1343/  781:  1430
:Bighorn R nr St. Xavier

STXM8N       : Apr-Sep : 2016/ :    82:   2941/ 1468:  2460
:Bighorn R nr St. Xavier

HRDM8        : Apr-Sep :   96/ :    76:    136/   65:   127
:Little Bighorn R nr Hardin

HRDM8N       : Apr-Sep :   96/ :    76:    136/   65:   127
:Little Bighorn R nr Hardin

DAYW4        : Apr-Sep :   59/ :    61:     82/   42:    96
:Tongue R nr Dayton

DAYW4N       : Apr-Sep :   65/ :    64:     87/   48:   101
:Tongue R nr Dayton

DSLM8        : Apr-Sep :   81/ :    34:    141/   47:   235
:Tongue R nr Decker

DSLM8N       : Apr-Sep :  127/ :    53:    187/   83:   240
:Tongue R nr Decker

DKRM8        : Apr-Sep :   82/ :    35:    153/   47:   235
:Tongue R Resvr Inflow

DKRM8N       : Apr-Sep :  129/ :    53:    199/   84:   245
:Tongue R Resvr Inflow

MHDM8        : Apr-Sep :   83/ :    37:    210/   55:   225
:Powder R at Moorhead

MHDM8N       : Apr-Sep :  119/ :    44:    250/   80:   270
:Powder R at Moorhead

LOCM8        : Apr-Sep :   97/ :    37:    243/   60:   260
:Powder R nr Locate

LOCM8N       : Apr-Sep :  131/ :    43:    284/   84:   305
:Powder R nr Locate

.END

Locations with an `N` suffix indicate natural flows excluding
stream augmentations.

KAF: Thousands of Acre-feet

%AVG: Current 50%/AVG

AVG: Average(50%) seasonal runoff voulme as simulated by the river
forecast model considering acontinuous simulation of the basin
response to historic climate data (observed precipitation and
temperatures) over the period of 1991-2020.

The 50%, 10% and 90% columns indicate the probability that the
actual volume will exceed the forecast for the valid time period.

Beginning April 1, May and June official forecasts include observed
runoff volume up to official forecast date.

For more information, please visit: www.weather.gov/mbrfc/water