Rain soaks north-central Montana

Steady rains kept farmers out of fields with a delayed harvest but brought much-needed rain to the region late last week and over the weekend, though they also are bringing flood warnings and advisories farther east and in central Montana.

The National Weather Service recording station at the Havre City-County Airport west of town recorded 2.1 inches of rain from Wednesday night through Sunday, bringing the region up to more than its normal amount for this time of year and for the weather year.

It also brought weekend flood advisories and warnings — Harlem already experienced flooding — with a flood advisory in effect through this afternoon for Judith Gap and Fergus counties, and a more severe flood warning in effect through 11:30 Tuesday morning for southern Phillips, southwestern Valley, western Garfield and all of Petroleum counties.

The weather this year has delayed crop development, with some parts of the area three weeks or more behind in harvesting grain. Some farmers still are harvesting — or are yet to start — winter wheat and spring wheat harvest, usually completed or nearing completion by this time of year, is not even close to starting for some farmers.

But the rain, which shut down harvesting for most agricultural producers, could bring conditions to a better state for fall planting.

Last Thursday, Havre’s recording station was more than an inch less than the normal amount received for the calendar year, at 7.19 inches. For the water year, which runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, the Havre station was at .52 inches less than normal.

By this morning, the Havre station had received 2.65 inches for the month, putting the year at 9.29 inches, .87 inches above normal, and 11.30 inches for the weather year, 1.47 inches more than normal.