We can all agree: That was one weird winter. Too warm, too brown, too short. If you’re a golfer or an American Robin, you might’ve been delighted. But for those of us who love and/or depend on cold temps and snow — or just appreciate when seasons show up on schedule — it was pretty troubling. To get a handle on exactly how strange things were, we went looking for data, some pulled from scientific databases, some phoned in from business owners and biologists around town. Here’s the winter Missoula barely had, by the numbers.
50%
Share of winter precipitation still held in Montana’s snowpack as of March 31 — the lowest on record for that date. Historically, about 80% remains in the mountains at the end of March.
32°
Average temperature recorded at the Missoula International Airport from Oct. 1 through the end of March — the warmest winter in 46 years of records, going back to 1980-81. Source: NWS
3x
Rate at which American Robins were spotted in the Missoula area in winter compared to the last decade’s average — 27% of reported bird sightings, versus the usual 9%. Robins typically migrate when food gets scarce, but this winter’s warmth kept food abundant. Spotted Towhees, another winter migrant, were seen at similarly unusual rates. Source: eBird data / Kate Stone, MPG Ranch
3/2
Date the University of Montana Golf Course opened this season — the earliest in its history. In a normal winter, the snow on the course is groomed for cross-country skiing. This winter, there was never enough snow to groom. In early March, UM Campus Recreation reported a 74% drop in cross-country ski rentals compared to the previous winter — 89 pairs rented versus 345. Source: UM Golf Course & UM Campus Rec
6x
Increase in documented trespass violations of Mount Jumbo’s seasonal wildlife closure this winter compared to last — 52 incidents versus eight. The mountain’s bare, snow-free trails enticed people who perhaps presumed the closure signs no longer applied. Source: Missoula Parks & Recreation
“This winter was totally fucked. We had the worst sales we’ve ever had.” —Zach Ford, owner of The Sports Exchange
65%
Share of expected revenue the Sports Exchange made during the winter season, according to Zach Ford, who owns the Hip Strip consignment shop that’s been in business for 40-plus years. “This winter was totally fucked,” he said. “We had the worst sales we’ve ever had.”
50
Fewer used skis sold at The Trail Head this winter compared to last — the first winter the downtown outdoor retailer’s consignment business saw a drop in sales. As manager Megan Frank put it, when it doesn’t look or feel like winter in Missoula, people don’t think about skiing — and the gear market dries up along with the snowpack.
4
Months early, roughly, that the Clark Fork River hit a water level normally not seen until April. The river, as measured below Missoula, topped 3.5 feet in December, which hasn’t happened since 2007 — and has occurred only three times during the entire October-March window over that same period.
20%
Less winter heating Missoula needed compared to the 30-year average, measured in heating degree days, a standard way of gauging a region’s energy demand. Source: NOAA
