Below average temperatures, more snow expected
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LAKE COUNTY — Recent precipitation has kept drought conditions at normal in Lake County with the exception of parts of Swan Valley, according to a report released Jan. 5 by the Department of Natural Resources and the NOAA.
As of Jan. 3, 74.25 percent of the state is currently at normal levels, according to the report.
Following a record warm November, December brought significant snow, bringing the snow water equivalent levels to near normal in higher elevations, even though levels were at 50 percent at the end of November. The valleys averaged 4-12 inches of snow in December.
Temperatures across the state averaged 2 to 10 degrees cooler than normal. Hot Springs tied its coldest day ever on Dec. 18 with a temperature of -31 degrees F.
For the rest of January, there’s a 60 percent chance of below average temperatures and a 40 percent chance of above average precipitation in Lake County and western Montana, according to the report.
The Montana Drought Status by County is a monthly assessment tool used to monitor the moisture at a county level for the state, created by compiling temperature, precipitation, snowpack, reservoirs status, surface water gauges, groundwater, crop reports, and field reports.
