drought

Over the past few decades, the effects of drought have become more variable across Montana, so the state needs more environmental information to fill in the gaps.

Between April and July, Oregon experienced its fourth driest period since record keeping began in 1895, according to the state’s climatologist.

The state’s reservoir levels dropped by about 10% between June 1 to July 1 — levels typically drop by about 2% during that timeframe.

After a warm, dry spring and early summer that hammered the winter snowpack, Montana’s rivers are already showing signs of stress with two months of summer to go.

According to the National Interactive Fire Center, more than half of Montana - all but the southeast and far eastern portions of the state - will have above-normal potential for wildland fire by July.

According to National Weather Service, the Beehive State is expected to have above average temperatures through August

The outlook is particularly bad for the country’s second-largest reservoir, Lake Powell, which is federally controlled by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

Absent intervention by state wildlife officials, Nevada’s state animal, the desert bighorn sheep, may see its herds thinned by starvation because of drought.

Climate scientists say increasing global temperatures have driven soil moisture in the Southwest below a critical point, creating a positive feedback loop of hotter and drier conditions.

The Grand Canyon State has been experiencing a historic drought since 1994, and has been under an official drought declaration since 1999.