Montana’s worst drought in decades continues into fall

The drought that has dried out soils, drawn down rivers and reservoirs, and challenged agricultural producers, land managers, recreationists and wildlife continues to persist as hydrologists anxiously track the progression of the La Niña weather pattern, hoping for a wet winter to start reversing the worst drought Montana has seen in at least 20 years.

During a drought and water supply advisory meeting hosted by the Department of Natural Resources on Monday, Troy Blandford, water system information officer for the Montana State Library, noted that while some areas of the state—namely the northwest and southeast corners—have emerged from the category of extreme drought into severe drought, trend lines have moved the opposite direction for much of central Montana, particularly Lewis & Clark County and northwest into the Rocky Mountain Front.

This year has been the worst drought in Montana going back to at least 2000, the start of the U.S. Drought Monitor’s period of record. As of Oct. 28, 100% of the state is in severe drought and 70% of the state is in extreme drought.