General Awareness
The soil and vegetation are continuing to dry out with only 0.25 inch of rain this week. This light rain temporarily helped the grass to green slightly but everything else is dry. The ground is cracking and getting hard in sunny areas. Much of the vegetation is turning brown. Trees are continuing to show signs of stress. Temperatures were near normal on November 10, but have since averaged 17 degrees above normal most of the week except Friday November 22 when the temperature reached 64 degrees (17 degrees above normal). We have only received 0.40 inch of rain in November, which is 0.66 inch below normal (38 percent of normal). Total precipitation for the year here is 99 percent of normal (0.35 inch below normal). Precipitation for the water year is 72 percent of normal.

Plants and wildlife. 
Soil is hard and dry at the surface and cracking open in many areas. Generally, soil is slightly moist to a depth of 2 inches, then dry to a depth of 6 inches. Grass and other vegetation are a mix of green and brown depending upon sun exposure and water needs. Bird visits to the bird bath have remained steady this week, with approximately 20 species of birds (about 90 to 100 birds each day). 

Water Supply
Water level in Standing Bear Lake (approximately 0.2 mile to the east of here) is about 1 foot below normal. Area creeks and ponds are also below normal.

Society and Public health
Canadian and western U.S. “wildfire” smoke or haze has been less this week this week with improving air quality. Skies have been blue to slightly milky light blue with diffuse sunlight when clear or partly cloudy.