This article from the Spokesman Review iin Washington doesn’t begin to tell the story and worry of local papers and folks in western Montana where we are now.
Late last week, many 100-degree temperatures were felt across the inland areas in Eastern Washington and North Idaho. Both the Spokane International Airport and Coeur d’Alene topped at a record-breaking 101 degrees on July 5.
Even parts of Western Montana soared to above the 100-degree mark, readings not typically seen until August.
Yesterday, at the National Bison Preserve, south of Bigfork Montana, it was 105 degrees at one point during the afternoon. Most of our wildlife viewing was done from inside or air conditioned metal cocoon. I did step out for a particularly fine panorama of an Osprey nest, adult and chicks and nearby an enormous red-tailed hawk being harried mercilessly by three blackbirds.