This was an interesting month, with the western portions of northeast Montana receiving well above normal precipitation, and the eastern half receiving generally less than normal precipitation. In fact, Phillips, Valley, and Garfield counties received up to 200 to 400 percent of their normal precipitation. However, with already dry conditions in place and very cold temperatures moving into place during the month, there was very little change in drought conditions overall, although some snow did fall across northeast Montana during the month of December.

Drought in CENTRAL AND SE PHILLIPS, MONTANA
From 01-DEC-17 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-17 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Despite a couple of winter storms that dropped a few inches of snow across the area the latter half of the month bringing precipitation amounts totaling more than 200 percent above normal, Extreme (D3) conditions prevailed throughout the month across central and southeast Phillips County.

Drought in DANIELS, MONTANA
From 01-DEC-17 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-17 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Despite a couple of winter storms that dropped a few inches of snow across the area the latter half of the month, precipitation amounts were generally 25 to 75 percent below normal. Extreme (D3) conditions prevailed throughout the month across Daniels County.

Drought in DAWSON, MONTANA
From 01-DEC-17 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-17 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Despite a couple of winter storms that dropped a few inches of snow across the area the latter half of the month, precipitation amounts were generally less than 50 percent of normal for the month across the northwestern half of the county, but around normal for the southeastern half. Severe (D2) drought conditions remained in place across northwestern Dawson County.

Drought in EASTERN ROOSEVELT, MONTANA
From 01-DEC-17 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-17 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Because of a couple of winter storms that dropped a few inches of snow across the area the latter half of the month, precipitation amounts were around normal for the month across eastern Roosevelt County. Due to the already frozen ground and this being a climatologically dry time of year, Severe (D2) drought conditions remained in place across eastern Roosevelt County.

Drought in GARFIELD, MONTANA
From 01-DEC-17 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-17 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Despite a couple of winter storms that dropped enough snow to bring precipitation amounts ranging from 75 to 200 percent of normal, Garfield County remained in Severe (D2) to Extreme (D3) drought conditions throughout December.

Drought in LITTLE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, MONTANA
From 01-DEC-17 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-17 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Despite a couple of winter storms that dropped enough snow to bring precipitation amounts to approximately 200 percent of normal, the Little Rockies remained in Severe (D2) drought conditions throughout December.

Drought in MCCONE, MONTANA
From 01-DEC-17 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-17 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Despite a couple of winter storms that dropped enough snow to bring precipitation amounts to approximately 50 to nearly 200 percent of normal across portions of the county, McCone County remained in Severe (D2) to Extreme (D3) drought conditions throughout December.

Drought in NORTHERN PHILLIPS, MONTANA
From 01-DEC-17 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-17 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The couple of winter storms that moved across the area were somewhat hit or miss across northern Phillips County, with precipitation amounts ranging from as low as 25 percent to as high as 200 percent of normal. Northern Phillips County remained in Extreme (D3) drought conditions throughout December.

Drought in NORTHERN VALLEY, MONTANA
From 01-DEC-17 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-17 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Despite a couple of winter storms that moved across the area which produced approximately 200 percent of average precipitation for the month, northern Valley County remained in Extreme (D3) drought conditions throughout December.

Drought in PETROLEUM, MONTANA
From 01-DEC-17 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-17 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Despite a couple of winter storms that moved across the area which produced approximately 150 to 200 percent of normal precipitation for the month, Petroleum County remained in Severe (D2) drought conditions throughout December.

Drought in PRAIRIE, MONTANA
From 01-DEC-17 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-17 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Despite a couple of winter storms that moved across the area which produced approximately 150 to 200 percent of normal precipitation for the month, the western half of Prairie County remained in Severe (D2) drought conditions throughout December.

Drought in RICHLAND, MONTANA
From 01-DEC-17 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-17 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Despite a couple of winter storms that moved across the area which produced approximately 150 to 200 percent of normal precipitation for the month, the northwestern half of Richland County remained in Severe (D2) drought conditions throughout December.

Drought in SHERIDAN, MONTANA
From 01-DEC-17 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-17 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Despite a couple of winter storms that moved across the area which produced approximately 50 percent to near normal precipitation for the month, Sheridan County remained in Severe (D2) drought conditions throughout December.

Drought in WESTERN ROOSEVELT, MONTANA
From 01-DEC-17 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-17 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Despite a couple of winter storms that moved across the area, western Roosevelt County received only approximately 50 percent to near normal precipitation for the month, and remained in Severe (D2) drought conditions throughout December.

Drought in CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN VALLEY, MONTANA
From 01-DEC-17 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-17 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Despite a couple of winter storms that dropped a few inches of snow across the area the latter half of the month bringing precipitation amounts totaling more than 200 percent above normal, Extreme (D3) conditions prevailed throughout the month across central and southern Valley County.