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000
NOUS45 KMSO 020643
PNSMSO

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
100 AM MDT SUN JUN 2 2013


...CLIMATE INFORMATION FOR MAY 2013 IN THE NORTHERN ROCKIES...


A few highlights for May:

*Precipitation varied across while average temperatures were
at or above normal.

*A significant warm stretch from May 5th-13th.  Temperatures reached
the lower to mid 80s which is about 15-20 degrees above normal.

*The warm temperatures expedited snowmelt across much of the basins
in the region. However, significant flooding was limited and
relatively minor along main stem rivers, mainly in Northwest
Montana.

*The first half of the month was abnormally dry while the second
half of May turned wetter than normal along the divide,
northwest and southwest Montana.

*The wettest areas were in Northwest Montana, along the Continental
Divide into southwest Montana. Anywhere from 2 to 3.5 inches of
precipitation fell in these areas.

*Snows May 23rd.   A vigorous and cold closed upper low pressure
system slowly moved across the region and dumped significant snow
over southwest Montana. Amounts ranged from  2 to 8 inches of wet
snow. Phillipsburg was the winner with 8" of snow.






The following are detailed climate numbers for select cities and
towns in Western Montana and Central Idaho.


FOR THE MONTH OF MAY

              PRECIPITATION        DEPARTURE

MISSOULA         1.38"              -0.63"
KALISPELL        2.95"              +0.97"
BUTTE            2.41"              +0.33"
HAMILTON         0.91"              -0.75"
WEST GLACIER     2.44"              -0.20"
LIBBY            1.56"              -0.02"
SALMON           1.54"              +0.20"
GRANGEVILLE      3.19"              -0.44"


*** OF NOTE MOST AREAS EAST OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE WERE 2-4"
ABOVE NORMAL FOR PRECIPITATION IN MAY


               TEMPERATURE   DEPARTURE

MISSOULA         55.1          +1.6
KALISPELL        53.1          +1.3
BUTTE            48.4          +0.8
HAMILTON         53.7          +0.4
WEST GLACIER     53.0          +1.8
LIBBY            56.9          +1.8
SALMON           54.6          -0.1
GRANGEVILLE      53.5          +1.2


              HIGHEST TEMP         COLDEST TEMP

MISSOULA      86 - MAY 12TH         26 - MAY 2ND
KALISPELL     85 - MAY 12TH         20 - MAY 2ND
BUTTE         81 - MAY 13TH         15 - MAY 2ND



====================================================================



PRECIPITATION - WATER YEAR THUS FAR   OCT 2012 - MAY 2013

              PRECIPITATION        DEPARTURE

MISSOULA         8.92"              +0.18"
KALISPELL       11.68"              +1.55"
BUTTE            4.94"              -1.85"
HAMILTON         8.08"              -0.46"
WEST GLACIER    26.27"              +5.31"
LIBBY           12.83"              -0.35"
SALMON           4.97"              -0.61"
GRANGEVILLE     13.16"              -3.31"


** In short it appears northwest Montana is above normal while
   southwest Montana and central Idaho are below normal.


================================================================


YEAR TO DATE PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURES  JAN 1 - MAY 31

              PRECIPITATION        DEPARTURE

MISSOULA         4.12"              -1.65"
KALISPELL        6.38"              +0.15"
BUTTE            3.31"              -1.47"
HAMILTON         3.64"              -1.71"
WEST GLACIER    10.98"              -1.09"
LIBBY            6.41"              -0.78"
SALMON           2.72"              -0.81"
GRANGEVILLE      7.61"              -3.73"



               TEMPERATURE         DEPARTURE

MISSOULA         38.3                +1.3
KALISPELL        37.2                +1.7
BUTTE            30.8                -1.3


====================================================================

WINTER 2012-2013

               SNOWFALL            DEPARTURE

MISSOULA        48.5"               +8.2"
KALISPELL       18.9"               -28.5" *
BUTTE            NA                   NA
WEST GLACIER    89.3"               -24.3"
GRANGEVILLE     37.0"               -4.7"


* NOTE 18.9" IN KALISPELL IS THE 2ND LOWEST SNOW TOTAL FOR
  ANY YEAR DATING BACK TO 1899. LOWEST TOTAL WAS 14.6" IN 1943

  IT IS ALSO KALISPELL`S 2ND LOWEST SNOW TOTAL (50.2")
  OVER CONSECUTIVE WINTERS SINCE 1943-45 (49.2")
=====================================================================


LOWEST TEMPERATURES IN WINTER 2012-13

MISSOULA            0   JANUARY 13, 2013  *
KALISPELL          +4   JANUARY 13, 2013  *
BUTTE              -23  JANUARY 14, 2013


MISSOULA HAS NOT RECORDED A SUB ZERO DAY SINCE FEBRUARY 27, 2011 OR
825 DAYS.  THIS IS THE SECOND MOST ON RECORD.  IF THERE ARE NO SUB
ZERO DAYS BY OCTOBER 30TH MISSOULA WILL SET THIS RECORD.  THIS
IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN AS THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A SUBZERO READING IN THE
MONTH OF OCTOBER.

KALISPELL HAS ONLY HAD 1 SUBZERO DAY THE PAST 2 WINTERS.  THAT
OCCURRED JANUARY 24, 2012 WHEN THE LOW WAS -1 IN KALISPELL.




====================================================================

DROUGHT

Long term severe to extreme drought exists in parts of southwest
Montana. Long term drought is defined as conditions lasting over 6
months.

Abnormally dry conditions exist in central and east central
Idaho. These abnormally dry conditions extend north into
the southern half of the Bitterroot valley, the southern
Bitterroot and Saphhire Mountains.


For additional and more detailed drought information go to

www.droughtmonitor.unl.edu


Please visit the NWS Missoula Website for additional information on
current conditions. www.weather.gov/missoula