Drought conditions are getting worse across much of Montana and it’s going to take above-normal springtime snow and rain to break out of the spiral.
That’s what experts told members of the governor’s Drought and Water Supply Advisory Committee Thursday during their first meeting of the year.
Pockets of extreme drought have gripped the Lincoln area and the Blackfoot watershed.
Severe and moderate drought is reported across most of western, southern and northeast Montana. Abnormally dry conditions dominate almost all the state.
There are two noteworthy exceptions: areas of Glacier and Musselshell counties report no drought.
Experts are taking a wait-and-see stance before making any drought predictions this summer.
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With the respiratory season around the corner many Montanans are getting their annual flu shot, but humans aren’t the only ones getting their vaccines ahead of the winter. Biologists are trying to protect bats from a deadly disease. -
The proposed Sheep Creek mining exploration located near the pristine headwaters of the Bitterroot River continues to draw intense scrutiny. A mining company is eyeing rare earth elements that are used for many technological applications. They are seeking federal and state approval to explore what’s below ground. Local community groups are monitoring the area’s water quality in case the project moves ahead, looking to ensure it stays clean. -
The weather pattern El Niño typically brings warmer and drier conditions to the Rockies, but there could be a few surprises this winter. -
State wildlife officials met last week to vote on new regulations and an easement. After lots of discussion and public comments, the Montana Fish & Wildlife Commission ruled on a variety of action items, from fishing regulations to frogs to motorboats. -
More than a dozen Montana organizations are suing the state’s utility oversight board over climate concerns. They argue that by not accounting for climate change, the Public Service Commission's decisions can have major environmental, economic and health impacts for Montanans. -
Western Montana’s temperatures have been unseasonably warm over the past couple of weeks, hovering up to 20 degrees above normal, but a major change is right around the corner.
