GENERAL OUTLOOK

August 1, 2000

Precipitation and Temperature Summary

Dry and near normal temperatures characterize most of the basin during the month of July.

Precipitation was generally light and primarily fell across the extreme north and south of the western portion of the basin in association with a series of weak weather disturbances. The East remained fairly dry under the influence of a high pressure system. No significant thunderstorm activity for the east side.

Pacific Northwest mean temperatures departed -0.5 degrees from normal relative to 1961-1990 normals (31 stations). Mean temperature departures ranged from -6.1 to 2.7 degrees.

Record high temperatures reported during the month of July include:

96 at Missoula on the 13th, 94 at Missoula on the 14th, 104 at Pocatello

on the 22nd, 104 at Pocatello on the 30th, 98 at Missoula on the 30th, 103

at Pocatello on the 31st, and 97 at Missoula on the 31st.

Record low temperatures reported during the month of July:

40 at Great Falls on the 5th.

No daily precipitation records were broken during the month of July.

For July, precipitation is:

77 percent of normal (1961-1990) at Columbia above Coulee,

45 percent of normal at the Snake River above Ice Harbor,

and 74 percent at Columbia above The Dalles.

For the water supply season, precipitation is:

103 percent of normal (1961-1990) at Columbia above Coulee,

86 percent of normal at the Snake River above Ice Harbor,

and 98 percent at Columbia above The Dalles.