Drought News

<a href="http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/08/12/build/state/30-drought.inc">Is Montana in drought? Hard to say</a><br />n<br />nThere is an easy answer to this question, long term the State is still in a drought. That's not hard to say at all. The article talks about the rains drying up but July is a fairly dry month normally and August is our driest month of the year so it's not unusual for there to be abundant rains early and then dry out in July and August. Let's get with the program and quit bitching. Fall rains (September and October) and winter snows are much more important on the drought picture than July moisture.<br />n<br />nOne last thing I find interesting is today's weather picture from the NWS.<br />n<br />n<blockquote>UNSEASONABLY <acronym title="Country of Origin Labeling">COOL</acronym> AIR AND MOUNTAIN SNOW FRIDAY AND SATURDAY..<br />n<br />nA <acronym title="Country of Origin Labeling">COOL</acronym>…ALMOST WINTER-LIKE…STORM SYSTEM WILL AFFECT THE REGION<br />nFRIDAY AND SATURDAY. RAIN WILL DEVELOP TODAY AND BECOME WIDESPREAD<br />nACROSS THE AREA LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE INTO EARLY SATURDAY.<br />nTEMPERATURES WILL BE COLD ENOUGH FOR SNOW IN THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE<br />n6500 FEET ELEVATION LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY SATURDAY…AND SEVERAL<br />nINCHES OF ACCUMULATION CAN BE EXPECTED. FOLKS PLANNING OUTDOOR<br />nACTIVITIES IN THE MOUNTAINS…SUCH AS BACKPACKING…SHOULD PREPARE<br />nFOR WINTER CONDITIONS…OR CONSIDER POSTPONING THE TRIP UNTIL<br />nSUNDAY.<br />n<br />nDAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURES FRIDAY AND SATURDAY WILL AVERAGE AROUND<br />n25 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL AND WILL BE MUCH MORE TYPICAL OF MID-OCTOBER.<br />nOVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO APPROACH RECORD VALUES<br />nBOTH SATURDAY AND SUNDAY MORNING. ALTHOUGH MOST LOCATIONS WILL NOT<br />nBE COLD ENOUGH TO EXPERIENCE A FROST OR FREEZE…THE MOUNTAINS AND<br />nMOUNTAIN VALLEYS COULD SEE MORNING TEMPERATURES NEAR OR BELOW<br />nFREEZING.</blockquote><br />n<br />nAlmost winter-like weather today and tomorrow with snow possible in higher elevations. Really odd for August, I won't complain but it is strange.<br />n<br />n<b>Worm or beetle – drought or tempest – on a farmer's land may fall, Each is loaded full o' ruin, but a mortgage beats 'em all. Will Carleton</b><br />n<br />