Natural Resource Information System

Montana’s Wet and Dry Spells

For 12-month periods, actual precipitation as a percentage of normal in Montana east of the Rockies. Normal yearly precipitation is 14.4 inches. Source: Penn State Meteorology Department

1. Historical deficit map of Montana Precipitation Departure from Normal (8 year)
   January 1996-August 2003
2. Historical deficit map of Montana Precipitation Departure from Normal (5 year)
   January 1999-August 2003

What is required to terminate or lessen the drought?

1. These 36 maps depict the precipitation, associated probabilities and percent of normal precipitation needed to end or ameliorate drought as it currently exists across the country.
2. Tips for: Getting Prepared for Drought.

The Current Administration's Response:

1. Governor Schweitzer's drought background: In 1993, Brian was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to serve on the Montana State USDA Farm Service Agency committee. He served for seven years with the FSA, and his three-person committee was responsible for the operation of 46 county offices, 300 employees and a budget of more than $300 million. He resigned in 1999 to run for U.S. Senate. In 1999, he was appointed to the National Drought Task Force, a 16-member national board, to review policy and report to Congress an improved coordination response to drought emergencies nationwide. He has brought that experience home.
2. Montana Government has appointed a Drought Advisory Committee to advise the governor on all drought-related issues.