Drought Conditions Return to North Dakota

FARGO - Jul 7/07 - SNS -- Drought like conditions have returned to Noirth Dakota, after a two week reprieve, says Adnan Akyuz, state climatologist and assistant professor of climatology in North Dakota State University's Soil Science Department.

"It took only two weeks for the creeping disaster to settle in the west-central and southwestern parts of the state."

The statewide rainfall average was nearly normal in June. However, portions of the state received only a half as much rain as they normally would, compared with the 30-year average.

West-central and southwestern North Dakota received only 58% and 65% of normal rainfall, respectively, during the last 30-day period, according to the North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network. Dickinson reported 2.18 inches for all of June, the month when rainfall is expected to be the maximum for the year. Watford City received even less, 1.3 inches, which was the lowest on record for June since 1933.

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