The area beyond Yellowtail Dam gets enough precipitation for mixed grasslands to thrive.
NPS
The Yellowtail Dam sits at the mouth of Bighorn Canyon, approximately a mile from Fort Smith, Montana. The precipitation around this area is 15 – 18 inches a year.
Rain here is more likely to be significant in May and June. Just downriver from the dam begin the rolling grasslands which stretch across the horizon for miles on end. This landscape is more tolerant of summer grazing and growing wheat because of the rainfall pattern.
Average Temperatures at the Yellowtail Dam, Montana
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
High (F)
40.2
46.1
54.0
63.4
72.7
82.7
91.0
91.0
79.2
66.1
49.0
41.7
Low (F)
17.7
21.9
28.0
36.2
44.5
52.4
57.2
56.1
47.2
38.5
27.7
20.5
Average Precipitation in inches at Yellowtail Dam
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
0.9
0.7
1.4
2.1
3.1
2.2
1.5
1.0
1.8
1.9
1.0
0.9
Last updated: March 14, 2019
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Contact Info
Mailing Address:
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area South District Visitor Center
20 US Hwy 14A
Lovell,
WY
82431
Phone:
307 548-5406
(307) 548-5406 is the South District in Lovell, WY.
(406) 666-9961 is the North District in Fort Smith, MT.
