There’s plenty of value to that snow on the ground. While no one enjoys shoveling it, or getting a vehicle stuck in it, it does have its importance. Namely, a source of soil moisture next spring.
Sure, it’s somewhat annoying to have to store all that white stuff for a few months, but it’s a big part of what makes North Dakota come alive in the spring. The Minot region, and much of the state, is coming off one of the driest periods in state history.
While rain missing last spring and summer returned in late September and early October last year, alleviating critically dry conditions, it didn’t necessarily mean an end to a year of persistent drought. However, snow on the ground might be a positive indicator of a changing trend.
“We are well on our way to a normal to above-normal snowpack, which would be a huge blessing." Allen Schlag, NWS hydrologist
“We are well on our way to a normal to above-normal snowpack, which would be a huge blessing,” said Allen Schlag, National Weather Service hydrologist in Bismarck. “If we can pull average snow this winter and go into spring with a couple of inches of water on the ground, that’ll cure a lot of problems from last year. I really like the direction we are going.”
Many livestock producers in the state were forced to reduce their herds in 2021, selling livestock due to dry pastures and a resulting lack of forage. Farmers were adversely affected too. Many areas of the state had limited crop production due to moisture shortages. While rains last fall brought soil moisture up to normal levels in many areas, it occurred long after the growing season.
Snowfall this winter has the potential to rapidly return enough moisture to pastures and cropland to have a significant impact on the start of the growing season, if not beyond. It may be “keep your fingers crossed” time for producers, but it is a much better situation than it was at this time a year ago.
“The reality is, we’re still very early in the snow season. We still have another 8 to 9 weeks before spring,” said Schlag. “But the path we’re on now is much better than what we saw last year.”
