We are having a dry spell. After one heavy 2-inch rain in early September, there has been very little moisture from the sky this cold season.
All over eastern North Dakota, autumn rainfall was only 20 to 50 percent of average. Winter snow, so far, has been less than that. We have gotten only about 6 inches of snow through the first half of winter. Average winter snowfall is about 50 inches.
However, this does not qualify as a drought because there are no water need issues. Last summer’s crops are harvested and the 2015 crops are still lying around in seed sacks. Rivers and reservoirs are still at normal levels due to the high water table from many wet years recently.
If the dry conditions continue into early summer, there will be reason for concern, mostly agriculturally. But that is still months away.
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