YANKTON, S.D. (WNAX) – Heavy mountain snowpack was a contributing factor to 2019 spring flooding in the Missouri River basin.

Mike Halpert, deputy director of the Climate Prediction Center, says they don’t directly forecast seasonal snowfall amounts.

Halpert says their winter outlook gives some guidance toward possible snowpack.

Halpert says while a La Nina is expected to develop, that doesn’t necessarily point toward more snow across the northern plains.

Much of the flooding in March of 2019 was triggered by heavy rain falling on frozen ground with the resulting rapid run off.