Much-needed rain finally falls in valley

Much-needed precipitation graced the area last week, ending a nearly 100-day dry spell.

Lake County, which has been in a severe drought, is full of water-dependent agriculture, Jack Stivers, a Montana State University Lake County Extension agent, said.

He noted there are more than 100,000 acres of irrigated land in the county.

As of Monday afternoon, the northern portion of the county was still listed as in a severe drought while the southern portion was listed as moderate, according to droughtmonitor.unl.edu, a website that officials use to gauge the severity of dryness.

Leeann Allegretto, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Missoula, explained that crop or pasture losses are most likely associated with a severe drought, and water shortages are common.

The sudden weather change from hot and dry weather patterns to cooler and wet are because Northwest Montana is between el niño – above average temperatures-and la niña- below average temperatures - weather patterns, Allegretto explained.

“Cooler and potentially wetter (weather) patterns should return within the next couple of weeks,” Allegretto said, adding that people should remember “that weather patterns change.”

As far as precipitation, Allegretto said that the first system that breezed through the area late last week would have been the best chance at a rainy reprieve, “and we’ll take it.”

Bruce Bauck, also a meteorologist with the NWS in Missoula, confirmed that June, July and August “were really dry.”

He said that although that was the case, the surface water in plants is what has been largely looked at regarding the drought.

Although the area is classified as in a severe drought, Bauck said that the Flathead River near West Glacier has seen a normal condition for this time of the year. “Flow right now is above historical minimum,” he said, adding that waterways are flowing what they typically do this time of the year.

Referring to the drought monitor, Bauck said that since January 1, the area was .86 below normal for precipitation.