Laurel outlook., 1945-06-20
UNUSUAL WEATHER
MAKES SW|TGH To
WARMER, DR|ER
Rainfall Declines In Week, No
Station Reporting More Than
Inch During Period

Unseasonably cold with near rec
ord-breaking temperatures occurred
.overmost of Montana from Wed
nesday to Saturday. Morning read
ings those days were near freezing
over the east and much of the CEN
trail areas, and below freezing in
the highlands and valleys of the
southwest portion. The last two
days of the week warmed up con-
siderably and brought much better
growing weather, with afternoon
readings of rs to slightly over 80
degrees quite generally.
Although showers were about as
frequent as in the preceding weeks,
totals were much less, no station
reporting more than an inch. The
showers appeared more local also.
During the cold, considerable snow
fell in the mountains and highlands
of the southwest. Light hail that
resulted in very little damage fell
in several northwestern counties.
Winds were n~oticeably high on Fri
day and Saturday yer the eastern
portion.
Weather records show the great
est June rainfall at Missoula was
in 1875 when 4.83 inches fell; Boze-
man had Sol inches in 1880; Bill
lings, TOT in 1899; Livingston, To
in 1914, and Red Lodge, 1924 in
1914. There are 40 weather observ-
ing stations in the state, of which
Is show last year had the greatest
June rainfall. This years June is
two-thirds spent, but may establish
new records at some of the stations.
Comparisons indicate a build-up in
rainfall that began about 1889.
While most. counties now report
ample moisture for crops, the cold
weather and lack of sunshine last
week held back growth, especially
in the case of the inter-tilled crops.
Grain crops and grass Jared better,
with improved stands reported in
some aceas which suffered an earl
Ter lack of moisture. Parts of Gla-
cier and Hill counties, however, still
report poor crop prospects as a re-
suit of insufficient moisture while
parts of northeastern Montana have
not received enough rain to date.
Winter wheat is generally in good
condition, but scattered damage
from wireworms continued to be re-
ported as we'll as root rot in a few
spots in northcentral and central
Montana Most winter wheat is in
the boot stage while the earlier
fields are heading out in the south.
ern areas. Spring grains are re-
ported z to 8 inches high in Valley
county and have generally made a
fair growth to date. The continued
lack of sunshine has caused some
fields to turn yellow in north CEN
trail Montana
Sugar beets made poor progress
last week, especially east of the
mountains. The cold weather and
continued thinning delays have
been unfavorable factors, with some
fields now getting quite weedy for
thinning.
Corn, beans and potatoes are in
much need of warmer weather and
are quite backward for this time
of year. 7
Hoppers are Matching in a large
number of counties but to date dam
age has been too light to require
Wire-worm and cut-worm
damage is now on the decline.
Summer fallow operations are re-
delayed in a number of coun-
ties.
In western Montana cold cloudy {
weather retarded pollinization of
fruit crops.
Livestock generally are in good
condition Shearing is progressing. !
Considerable cattle and sheep are
on summer range. Is