Small amount of rain and cold weather now may help fire danger temporarily, as fires were starting to break out around the area. Short-term is dry, down 5" from normal since August.  Long-term deficit is severe, with ponds and shallow lakes down several feet, some ponds completely dry. Trees are stressed, and I'm having 10 dead/dying aspen and jack pine taken down in my yard this week. Some shallow wells are sputtering. Wildlife are drinking water that I set out.