Drought — Southeastern Carbon, Montana

2021-08-01 to 2021-08-31 · Southeastern Carbon, Montana

Event narrative

Please see Event Narrative.

Wider weather episode

The lack of any significant precipitation during the normally wet months of March, April and May, combined with above normal temperatures going into June resulted in the beginning of a significant drought across the Billings Forecast Area. Temperatures across many areas were around 100 degrees by the middle of June. Temperatures during July and August were mainly in the 90s and lower 100s. This combined with very little, if any rainfall, resulted in extreme drought conditions across the entire area throughout most of the summer, with the hardest hit areas across south central and southeast Montana. Wetter conditions resulted in some improvement during the middle and latter part of August.

The following are some of the impacts resulting from the drought: (For more details, please see https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu)

-The entire Billings Forecast Area was designated Extreme (D4) Drought Conditions.

-The period May-July was some of the driest periods on record with extreme heat.

-It was one of the top 5 warmest summers on record.

-High percentages of short/very short topsoil and subsoil moisture conditions

-Lowest 5-10th percentiles for many stream and river flows per USGS

-The city of Billings had water restrictions, no watering on Mondays

-Low flows and warm temperatures resulted in fishing restrictions and closures per FWP

-Low crop yields (some of the lowest since 1988, some dating back to the 1930s)

-Hay shortages with many ranchers having to buy hay from out of state which was very

costly.

-Poor pasture land

-Significant grasshopper activity in places and associated losses

-Low water supplies for cattle

-Low weights in calves and cows

-Selling off calves and cows early

-Above normal wildfire activity, along with an early start to the wildfire season

-Fire restrictions prohibited campfires

-Poor air quality from local and western U.S. wildfires

-Firefighters facing physical and mental exhaustion due to the extensive nature of initial

attacks

-Agricultural producers dealing with the stress of the drought, some close to losing their

livelihoods due to their crop/livestock losses.

-Impacts to mental health.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 979115. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.