Rainfall for December and the beginning of January has been much below normal and conditions are continuing to dry out. I received 0.5 inch of snow (0.05 inch gauge catch, 0.04 snow-water equivalent) here this week. Temperatures were  15 degrees above normal early this week with high temperatures in the mid 50s cooling to the mid 30s by the end of the week). The ground remained thawed this week allowing snow melt to soak in. Precipitation here for December here was 0.44 inch, which was 0.82 inch below normal (35 percent of normal). So far January rainfall is 49 percent of normal. Precipitation for the water year is 1.55 inch below normal (70 percent of normal).

Plants and wildlife. 
The soil is moist near the surface and the grass is green in shady areas, but is beginning to dry and brown in sunny locations. Bird visits to the bird bath have increased this week, with approximately 25 species of birds (about 120 to 150 birds each day). 

Water Supply
Water level in Standing Bear Lake (approximately 0.2 mile to the east of here) is slightly normal. Area creeks and ponds are approximately 2 feet below normal.