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| Last updated: January 28, 2008 |
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| January: Temperatures varied widely in Montana during
January. Stanford had the high temperature of 68 degrees, and West Yellowstone
had the low temperature of minus 51 degrees. The state received below
normal precipitation during the month. Thompson Falls received the most
moisture at 2.84 inches. At month’s end, winter wheat conditions were
nearly the same as last year, with 54% rated good to excellent. Seventy
percent of pastureland was open to grazing. Calving and lambing had just
started by the end of the month. February: Montana received moderate to heavy precipitation during the month. Swan Lake had the most moisture at 3.12 inches. Roundup, Hardin, and Rapelje reached the high of 64 degrees, and West Yellowstone had the low of minus 36 degrees. At month’s end, winter wheat conditions were rated 6% excellent, 28% good, 64% fair, and 2% poor. Pastureland open for grazing decreased from last month, due to more snowfall. Most livestock were receiving supplemental feed. March: Most areas of Montana received below normal precipitation during the first part of the month. Snow and rain fell across the state the last week. Billings received 7.5 inches of snowfall on March 30, breaking the old record of 3.7 inches on that date in 1989. Albion had the high temperature of 81 degrees, and West Yellowstone had the low of minus 25 degrees. At month’s end, winter wheat conditions were 70% mostly good to excellent, significantly ahead of last year’s 42% mostly good to excellent conditions. Calving and lambing were 62% and 39% complete, respectively. April: Montana had moderate amounts of precipitation the first three weeks in April, but little moisture the last week. Temperatures for the month varied from 86 degrees at Hardin to 2 degrees at Gold Butte. At the end of the month, winter wheat conditions were 66% mostly good to excellent. Field tillage was 52% well underway, the same as last year. Topsoil moisture conditions were 85% mostly adequate to surplus. Calving and lambing were nearing completion by the end of the month. May: The state received above normal precipitation at the beginning of the month, scattered precipitation during the middle, and above normal precipitation at the end of the month. Bozeman received 7.3 inches of snowfall on May 29, breaking the old record for that day of 4.0 inches in 1892. At the end of the month, winter wheat conditions were 74% mostly good to excellent. Range and pasture feed conditions were 69% mostly good to excellent, ahead of last year and the five-year average. Seventy-three percent of cattle and calves and seventy percent of sheep and lambs were moved to summer pastures by the end of the month. June: Most areas in Montana received moderate to heavy precipitation until mid-month, when the weather turned hot and dry. Albion had the high temperature for the month at 106 degrees. Nashua received the most moisture at 3.95 inches. At month’s end, winter wheat conditions were 68% mostly good to excellent, down from last month, but better than last year and the five-year average. Nearly all the cattle and calves and sheep and lambs were moved to summer ranges by the end of the month. Range and pasture feed conditions were 72% mostly good to excellent. Hay harvest was in full swing. July:July was hot, the hottest July on record in Montana. Throughout the month, various cities had temperatures over 100 degrees. During the last week, Glendive and Wolf Point both reached 111 degrees. Most of the state had below normal precipitation. Conditions of spring grains declined, due to continued heat stress. Winter wheat harvest was 59% complete by month’s end, compared to 78% last year and the five-year average of 35%. The first cutting of all hay was nearly complete. At month’s end, summer pasture conditions were 10% excellent, 34% good, 33% fair, and 23% poor and very poor. August:The hot weather continued until the last part of the month when high temperatures dropped into the 80s. Only a few places reported highs in the 90s. The state had below normal precipitation for August. Winter wheat harvest was complete by month’s end. Spring wheat, barley, and oats harvest and the second cutting of alfalfa hay were nearing completion. The hot, dry weather affected small grain yields. At month’s end, range and pasture feed conditions were 37% good and excellent, ahead of last year and the five-year average. September: Temperatures were above normal the first part of September. Miles City had the high temperature of 103 degrees. During the last part of the month, average temperatures cooled into the 40s and 50s. Precipitation was limited the first half of the month. Above normal precipitation prevailed in most areas the rest of the month. Winter wheat seeding was 69% complete by the end of the month, slightly ahead of last year but nearly the same as the five-year average. Pulse and specialty crops harvest was nearing completion at month’s end, and sugar beet harvest had just begun. The movement of livestock from summer pastures was well underway. October: The state had above normal precipitation in many areas the first week. Precipitation was limited to moderate the rest of October. West Glacier had the most moisture for the month at 2.95 inches. Warm temperatures prevailed during the month. Winter wheat seeding was virtually complete by month’s end, and fifty percent of the crop was rated good to excellent. Corn harvest for grain was well underway. Seventy-three percent of cattle and calves and seventy-nine percent of sheep and lambs were moved off summer ranges at the end of the month. November: Montana received light to moderate precipitation during November. Temperatures were above normal the first half of the month and colder, near normal the second half of the month. Corn harvest for grain was eighty-seven percent complete at month’s end. Fifty-one percent of the winter wheat crop was rated good to excellent, nearly the same as last month. Most livestock had been moved from summer pastures by month’s end. Fifty-seven percent of cattle and calves and fifty-eight percent of sheep and lambs received supplemental feed. December: Montana received below normal precipitation in most areas during the month. Temperatures were above normal for December. Jordan had the high of 67 degrees. Winter wheat had little snow cover, but wind and frost damage was minimal. By month's end, 33% of winter wheat was in good to excellent condition, behind last year's 58% good to excellent. Eighty-one percent of cattle and calves and eighty-four percent of sheep and lambs received supplemental feed, nearly the same as last year. | |
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